Relationship Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Latitude in Children and Adolescents: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey in China

Background/Objective: This study assessed the correlation between latitude and the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of children and adolescents. Methods: In 16 provinces and autonomous regions in China, 25,941 children and adolescents aged 10-18 were included. CRF was measured using the 20 m shuttle run test (20 m SRT) and estimated peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). One-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were used to explore the correlation between CRF and latitude in children and adolescents. Results: The VO2peak values of the low (south), middle, and high (north) latitude groups for boys were 43.1, 43.1, and 40.7 mL/kg/min, respectively, and 40.0, 40.0, and 38.5 mL/kg/min for girls, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the regression coefficients (beta) between VO2peak-Z and both latitude-Z and (latitude-Z)(2) for boys were -0.151 and -0.043, respectively. For girls, they were -0.142 and -0.020, respectively. The Partial correlation coefficient (r) for latitude-Z and (latitude-Z)(2) were -0.14 and -0.04 for boys, and -0.13 and -0.02 for girls, respectively. Conclusion: The CRF among children and adolescents in high latitude regions is significantly lower than that in middle and low latitude region, and it generally shows a "parabolic" trend between Latitude-Z and VO2peak-Z. (C) 2021 The Society of Chinese Scholars on Exercise Physiology and Fitness. Published by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd.