Objective:

To identify differences in the components of health-related quality of life (HRQL) across cardiorespiratory fitness in samples of adolescents from three cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.

Method:

The Kidscreen-52 questionnaire was administered to 1357 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age (48.6% of them male) in selected samples in the three countries. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by the estimation of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Univariate and multivariate analysis of variation was used to identify differences between cardiorespiratory fitness for each component of HRQL.

Results:

The data showed significant differences between sex, age and cities/countries of origin of adolescents. Significant differences were identified in most HRQL components favorable to adolescents who had higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels, becoming more pronounced with an increase of VO2max scores. Differences in some HRQL components in favor of male were reduced or reversed when comparing both sexes in the higher strata of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Conclusion:

The evidence indicates consistent association between higher VO2max and favorable indicators of HRQL, suggesting that cardiorespiratory fitness can be used not only to achieve physiology targets of the adolescent health, but also psychological, emotional and social well-being.