PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH IN FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS; A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including physical inactivity and sedentary behavior, often emerge early in life and persist into adulthood. Medical students (MS) are particularly vulnerable due to high academic demands, stress, and limited opportunities for physical activity (PA). This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between PA levels and cardiovascular health among first-year MS at Universidad del Rosario, Colombia. Using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular Health Index (CVHI), and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), we assessed students’ cardiovascular risk and analyzed sex differences in PA patterns.Among 188 participants (61.2% female), most had ideal CVHI (79.6%) and low WHtR-CVD risk (90%). Males engaged in higher moderate PA (MPA) and accumulated more total METs than females. CVHI correlated positively with vigorous PA (VPA) and MPA while negatively with WHtR. Multivariable Poisson regression identified that higher WHtR and prolonged sitting time increased intermediate CVHI prevalence, while VPA was protective. High WHtR-CVD risk was associated with increased age and systolic blood pressure (SBP), whereas males had a lower risk.Despite most students presenting ideal CVHI, nearly half had suboptimal PA levels. Given the protective role of VPA and the negative impact of sedentary behavior, integrating structured PA interventions in medical education is crucial. These findings underscore the need to promote cardiovascular health early in medical training to encourage lifelong healthy habits among future physicians.