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Table 6 Hazard ratios (HR) for early medical discharge from military service by physical fitness test variables at baseline.

From: Low physical fitness is a strong predictor of health problems among young men: a follow-up study of 1411 male conscripts

Physical fitness test result

Category

Total number

(% of discharged)

HR for

discharge

(n = 133) *

HR for

discharge

(n = 133) **

Cooper's test (12-minute running test)

Excellent (≥ 3000 m)

51 (6)

  
   

} 1 (Referent)

} 1 (Referent)

 

Good (≥ 2600 m)

330 (4)

  
 

Fair (≥ 2200 m)

630 (6)

1.5 (0.8-2.8)

1.4 (0.8-2.7)

 

Poor (< 2200 m)

358 (14)

3.7 (2.1-6.7)

3.3 (1.7-6.4)

Pull-up test (consecutive repeats without time limit)

Excellent (≥ 14)

158 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Good (≥ 10)

221 (8)

1.6 (0.7-3.6)

1.8 (0.7-4.5)

 

Fair (≥ 6)

391 (5)

1.0 (0.5-2.4)

1.0 (0.4-2.5)

 

Poor (< 6)

608 (11)

2.2 (1.1-4.6)

2.0 (0.9-4.6)

Standing long jump test (two attemps, best result observed)

Excellent (≥ 2, 40 m)

241 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Good (≥ 2, 20 m)

363 (8)

1.6 (0.8-3.0)

1.5 (0.8-3.0)

 

Fair (≥ 2, 00 m)

442 (6)

1.2 (0.6-2.3)

1.0 (0.5-2.0)

 

Poor (< 2, 00 m)

332 (11)

2.3 (1.2-4.2)

1.7 (0.9-3.3)

Sit-up test (repeats per 60 seconds)

Excellent (≥ 48)

221 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Good (≥ 40)

319 (4)

0.9 (0.4-2.1)

0.7 (0.3-1.7)

 

Fair (≥ 32)

459 (9)

2.0 (1.0-3.9)

1.4 (0.7-3.0)

 

Poor (< 32)

379 (12)

2.8 (1.4-5.5)

1.9 (0.9-4.0)

Push-up test (repeats per 60 seconds)

Excellent (≥ 38)

450 (6)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Good (≥ 30)

312 (5)

1.0 (0.5-1.8)

0.9 (0.5-1.6)

 

Fair (≥ 22)

350 (7)

1.3 (0.8-2.3)

1.0 (0.6-1.9)

 

Poor (< 22)

266 (15)

2.7 (1.7-4.5)

1.8 (1.0-3.2)

Back lift test (repeats per 60 seconds)

Excellent (≥ 60)

660 (6)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Good (≥ 50)

284 (10)

1.7 (1.1-2.8)

1.2 (0.7-1.9)

 

Fair (≥ 40)

291 (7)

1.2 (0.7-2.0)

0.9 (0.5-1.5)

 

Poor (< 40)

143 (13)

2.2 (1.3-3.9)

1.3 (0.7-2.4)

Conscript's physical fitness index 1

Excellent (≥ 21.00)

69 (3)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Good (17.00-20.99)

409 (6)

2.0 (0.5-8.4)

1.4 (0.3-5.9)

 

Fair (13.00-16.99)

590 (6)

2.1 (0.5-8.7)

1.1 (0.2-4.7)

 

Poor (< 13.00)

297 (14)

5.1 (1.2-21.2)

2.5 (0.6-11.1)

Co-impairment in Cooper's and push-up tests

No

1219 (6)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes, poor results in both tests

146 (18)

3.1 (2.0-4.8)

2.6 (1.6-4.3)

Co-impairment in Cooper's and pull-up tests

No

1365 (7)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes, poor results in both tests

272 (15)

2.8 (1.9-4.1)

2.7 (1.7-4.3)

Co-impairment in sit-up and pull-up tests

No

1107 (6)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes, poor results in both tests

271 (15)

2.6 (1.8-3.8)

2.2 (1.4-3.4)

Co-impairment in push-up and standing long jump tests

No

1241 (7)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes, poor results in both tests

137 (19)

3.1 (2.0-4.8)

2.5 (1.5-4.1)

Co-impairment in sit-up and push-up tests

No

1215 (7)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes, poor results in both tests

163 (18)

3.0 (2.0-4.6)

2.6 (1.6-4.1)

  1. Variable distribution was charted in 1411 male conscripts during the first week of military service and discharge outcomes were registered during the following 6-month military service. Statistically significant findings are indicated with bold type.
  2. 1 Conscript's physical fitness index (CPFI) = (12-min running test result (m) + 100 × muscle fitness test points)/200.
  3. * Adjusted for age (univariate)
  4. ** Adjusted for age, company, smoking (previous or current smoker), alcohol intake, baseline medical conditions (sports injury during last month, sum factor of earlier musculoskeletal symptoms during the last month before entering the military, chronic impairment or disability due to prior musculoskeletal injury, chronic disease, regular medication), school success (educational level and grades combined), urbanisation level of the place of residence, participating in ball games, last degree achieved in school sports, physical activity during the previous 3 months before entering the military, self-assessed health, belonging to a sports club and participation in competitive sports (17 adjusting variables).
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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