Impact of sports participation on cardiovascular health markers of children and adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 1 Blood pressure

Ref.	Title of paper	Aim/purpose	Total sample, n = 326	Sample age	Follow-up time	Sports	Main results	Quality assessment1
Cayres-Santos et al[29], 2020	Sports participation improves metabolic profile in adolescents: ABCD growth study	To analyze the impact of participation in sports with different CRF demands on changes in metabolic and cardiovascular markers in adolescents	184 adolescents (n = 122 engaged in sports and n = 62 not engaged in sports)	Between 11-18	12 mo	High CRF: Basketball, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Low CRF: Baseball, gymnastics, judo, karate, and kung fu	SBP increased in both sports with high [2.299 mmHg (95%CI: 0.142-4.456)) and low CRF [2.806 mmHg (95%CI: 0.261-5.351)]. DBP increased in sports with high [1.896 mmHg (95%CI: 0.499-3.293)], but not in sports with low CRF [0.948 mmHg (95%CI: -0.271 to 4.562)]	7
Cayres et al[30], 2018	Sport-based physical activity recommendations and modifications in C-reactive protein and arterial thickness	We analyzed the effects of 1 yr of engagement in ≥ 300 min/wk of organized sports on inflammatory levels and vascular structure in adolescents	89 adolescents (n = 15 sport practice and n = 74 non-sport practice)	Between 11-14	12 mo	Soccer, swimming, and others not shown	SBP did not change in the sports participation group [-0.309 mmHg (95%CI: -4.149 to 3.532)], but DBP did [-6.269 mmHg (95%CI: -9.313 to -3.224)]	7
Seabra et al[31], 2020	School-based soccer practice is an effective strategy to improve cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in overweight children	We examined the effects of a 6-mo school-based soccer program on CV and metabolic risk factors in overweight children	40 overweight boys aged 8 to 12 yr (n = 20 soccer group and n = 20 control group)	Between 8–12	6 mo	Soccer	SBP did not change in the soccer group (2.7 mmHg), but DBP did (-4.0 mmHg)	9
Vasconcellos et al[26], 2021	Does Recreational Soccer Change Metabolic Syndrome Status in Obese Adolescents? A Pilot Study	To evaluate whether a soccer program (RSP) might lower risk factors related to MetS in obese adolescents	13 adolescents aged 13-17 yr (n = 6 soccer program and n = 7 control)	Between 12-17	12 wk	Soccer	SBP (-7.0 mmHg) and DBP (-3.0 mmHg) did not change significantly in the soccer group	8

¹Quality Assessment according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (range 0 to 9) for cohort studies. ABCD Growth Study: Analysis of Behaviors of Children During Growth; CRF: Cardiorespiratory fitness; CV: Cardiovascular; MetS: Metabolic syndrome; RSP: Randomly assigned to experimental.

Table 2 Arterial thickness

Ref.	Title of paper	Aim/purpose	Total sample, n = 273	Sample age	Follow-up time	Sports participation definition	Main results	Quality assessment1
Cayres-Santos et al[29], 2020	Sports participation improves metabolic profile in adolescents: ABCD growth study	To analyze the impact of participation in sports with different CRF demands on changes in metabolic and cardiovascular markers in adolescents	184 adolescents (n = 122 engaged in sports and n = 62 not engaged in sports)	Between 11-18	12 mo	High CRF: Basketball, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Low CRF: Baseball, gymnastics, judo, karate, and kung fu	Carotid IMT did not change in both sports with high [0.002 mm (95%CI: -0.018 to 0.023)] and low CRF [-0.001 mm (95%CI: -0.024 to 0.023)]. Femoral IMT did not change in both sports with high [0.013 mm (95%CI: -0.010 to 0.037)] and low CRF [-0.004 mm (95%CI: -0.024 to 0.033)]	8
Cayres et al[30], 2018	Sport-based physical activity recommendations and modifications in C-reactive protein and arterial thickness	We analyzed the effects of 1 yr of engagement in ≥ 300 min/wk of organized sports on inflammatory levels and vascular structure in adolescents	89 adolescents (n = 15 Sport practice and n = 74 non-sport practice)	Between 11-14	12 mo	Soccer, swimming, and others not shown	Carotid IMT did not change in the sports participation group [0.006 mm (95%CI: -0.013 to 0.024)], but Femoral IMT did [-0.043 mm (95%CI: -0.081 to -0.006)]	8

¹Quality Assessment according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (range 0 to 9) for cohort studies. CRF: Cardiorespiratory fitness; IMT: Intima-media thickness.