CARDIOMETABOLIC PROFILE AND VO2MAX PREDICTORS: AN INTEGRATIVE STUDY COMPARING ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN FEMALE ADOLESCENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Female adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) are at increasedrisk of adiposity and cardiometabolic disorders. However, the determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max) remain insufficiently documented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This study aimed to compare the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of female adolescents with and without ID and to identify the predictors of VO₂max using a multiple linear regression model. This analytical cross-sectional study included 252 female adolescents, comprising 129 with ID and 123 without ID. Anthropometric and physiological measurements included body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and VO₂max. Group comparisons were performed using the independent Student's t-test. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify the determinants of VO₂max. Female adolescents with ID had significantly higher body weight and BMI, lower height, and markedly lower VO₂max than those without ID (all p< .001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that VO₂max was positively associated with respiratory rate (β = 0.336, p< .001) and heart rate (β = 0.189, p= .002), whereas BMI was negatively associated with VO₂max (β = -0.123, p= .046). The regression model explained approximately 28% of the variance in VO₂max (adjusted R² = 0.28). Age and the combined influence of cardiovascular and ventilatory parameters also appeared to contribute to cardiorespiratory fitness. Female adolescents with ID exhibited an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile characterized by increased adiposity and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. Respiratory rate, heart rate, and BMI were significant independent predictors of VO₂max. These findings underscore the importance of multidimensional interventions, including adapted physical activity programs and regular cardiovascular monitoring, to improve the health and physical fitness of this vulnerable population. Keywords:female adolescents; intellectual disability; anthropometric parameters; physiological parameters; cardiorespiratory fitness; VO₂max.