Low cardiorespiratory fitness associated with decreased work ability, finds study

Cardiorespiratory fitness, which measures the body's ability to deliver oxygen to muscles during physical activity, is closely linked to work ability in individuals. Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness typically correlate with better work ability, as it enhances endurance, reduces fatigue, and improves overall physical capacity. The association of fitness with work ability has been demonstrated in cross-sectional studies. Evidence from experimental and observational studies have shown that sufficient levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and musculoskeletal fitness and a healthy body weight benefits work ability.

In the study, the participant's baseline physical fitness was measured in school between the ages of 12 and 19. Work ability was self-assessed twice during working life, between the ages of 37 and 44 and then between the ages of 57 and 64. The samples included fitness measurements for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), musculoskeletal fitness (MF) and BMI.

The results showed that low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence was associated with decreased work ability and higher rates of absence due to illness in the middle of working life, and with decreased work ability at the end of working life.

The findings suggested that low CRF in youth is associated with poor workability at the middle and end of working life, which highlights the informative and prognostic value of CRF assessment early in youth. Enhancing CRF in the first decades of life might contribute to better work capacity and productivity, which would have implications for health, quality of life, society, and the economy.

Reference: Perttu T. T. Laakso, Francisco B. Ortega, Pertti Huotari, Asko J. Tolvanen, Urho M. Kujala, Timo T. Jaakkola. Adolescent Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Future Work Ability. JAMA Network Open, 2024; 7 (3): e243861 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3861