Author
Rommel Jr. S. Fortadez*
National University, Manila, Philippines
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the impact of the Cardio-Fit U Program (Cardiovascular Fitness Improvement for University Employees) on employees’ cardiovascular health, focusing on resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and participants’ experiences. A quasi-experimental mixed-method design was utilized, with a pre-post-test approach involving 15 university employees. The results revealed significant improvements in cardiovascular health, including a decrease in resting heart rate from 80.5 bpm to 77.7 bpm (mean difference of 2.80 bpm), systolic blood pressure from 118 mmHg to 111 mmHg (mean difference of 7.13 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure from 75.8 mmHg to 73.7 mmHg (mean difference of 2.07 mmHg). The study concluded that the program effectively improved cardiovascular health by reducing heart rate and blood pressure, with moderate to large effect sizes. Employees reported increased energy levels and motivation, indicating the program’s positive impact. The findings suggested that workplace wellness programs could significantly improve employees’ physical well-being.
Keywords: Cardio-Fit U Program, cardiovascular health, workplace wellness, blood pressure, resting heart rate.
*Corresponding author / Email: rsfortadez@national-u.edu.ph
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021229
Recommended citation:
Fortadez, R. S., Jr. (2026). CARDIO-FIT U Program: Cardiovascular fitness improvement for university employees. Pantao (International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (2), 5542-5558. shttp://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021229
Read the full text
References
Aguda, K. M. E., & Gimpaya, R. A. (2025). Sedentary behavior and self-efficacy: Its relationships to teachers’ physical well-being. International Journal of Social Science Humanity & Management Research, 4(7), 1305–1316. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2025v4i7n01
Alansare, A. B., Muldoon, M. F., Perera, S., et al. (2026). Effects of reducing sedentary behaviour on heart rate variability and cardio-metabolic biomarkers in desk workers with untreated high blood pressure. Experimental Physiology. https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP093468
Alhajaji, R., Alfahmi, M. Z., Alshaikhi, S. A., et al. (2025). The influence of workplace stressors on the risk of cardiovascular diseases among healthcare providers: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1461698/full
Barbosa, I., & Real de Oliveira, E. (2025). Beyond image: Evaluating the perceived effectiveness of workplace mental health programs in the insurance sector. BMC Public Health, 25. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-025-21302-9
Berschick, J., Czakert, J., Koch, A. K., Schröter, M., et al. (2025). Resources and facilitators of workplace well-being among healthcare professionals in a hospital setting—Results of a qualitative interview study. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, Article 1586976. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1586976/full
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 328–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238
Burn, N. L., Weston, M., Atkinson, G., Graham, M., et al. (2021). Brief exercise at work (BE@work): A mixed-methods pilot trial of a workplace high-intensity interval training intervention. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, Article 699608. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.699608/full
Carter, A. M., Humphreys, L., Beswick, A., & Kesterton, S. (2025). The acceptability of a novel seismocardiography device for measuring VO2 max in a workplace setting: A mixed methods approach. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 21480. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-025-21480-6
Choi, Y., Kim, G., Yoon, J., & Kim, Y. S. (2024). Association of resting heart rate and physical activity with cardiovascular mortality: A population-based cohort study of Korean adults. Journal of Sports Sciences. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02640414.2024.2400807
Cui, C., & Zhu, H. (2025). Epidemiological patterns and occupational predictors of electrocardiographic abnormalities in seafarers: A multicenter health screening analysis. Frontiers in Public Health. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1602761/full
De Clerck, I., Van Hulle, D., & Maenhout, A. (2022). Barriers and facilitators in Belgian inactive desktop workers to participate in workplace-based physical activity programs. The European Journal of Public Health, 32(Supplement_3). https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/32/Supplement_3/ckac094.068/6766406
Derok, V. (2024). Exploring the role of leaders and employees in workplace wellness: A multiple case study of Australia medium-sized organisations [Doctoral dissertation, University of the Sunshine Coast]. https://research.usc.edu.au/view/pdfCoverPage?instCode=61USC_INST&filePid=13277467110002621&download=true
Díaz-Benito, V. J., Bonal, J., Fernández-Luna, Á., Burillo, P., Macías, R., & León-Quismondo, J. (2025). Health and productivity benefits of a multicomponent workplace program by gender in small companies. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1672619/full
Duller, S. F., Tejero, L. M. S., Tating, D. L. R. P., et al. (2024). The effectiveness of collaborative advanced practice nursing in primary hypertension management: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. https://journals.lww.com/jcnjournal/fulltext/2024/09000/the_effectiveness_of_collaborative_advanced.12.aspx
Edwards, J. J., Deenmamode, A. H. P., Griffiths, M., Tilling, K., Mattocks, C., Munir, F., & Rees, K. (2023). Exercise training and resting blood pressure: A large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(20), 1317–1326. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106503
Franklin, B. A., Thompson, P. D., Al-Zaiti, S. S., Albert, C. M., Hivert, M.-F., Levine, B. D., Lobelo, F., Madan, K., Sharrief, A. Z., & American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology. (2022). Exercise-related acute cardiovascular events and potential deleterious adaptations following long-term exercise training: Placing the risks into perspective—An update. Circulation, 145(13), e705–e736. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001055
Gao, W., Sanna, M., Chen, Y.-H., Tsai, M.-K., Wen, C.-P., & Brage, S. (2024). Occupational sitting time, leisure physical activity, and all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. JAMA Network Open, 7(1), e2350680. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50680
Garcia-Rojas, I. J., Omidakhsh, N., Arah, O. A., et al. (2021). Blood pressure changes after a health promotion program among Mexican workers. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, Article 683655. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.683655/full
Gelisanga, M. A. P., Ramos, S. F. A., Ang, C. D., & Ignacio, S. D. (2024). Physical activity and fitness level of healthcare workers in a tertiary teaching hospital. Acta Medica Philippina, 58(20), Article 9538. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v58i20.9538
Gonçalves, H. C. B., de Almeida Silva, P. H., et al. (2024). Cardiovascular health and workload in university workers. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho, 22(2). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11595396/
Gonzales, T. I., Jeon, J. Y., Lindsay, T., Westgate, K., Perez-Pozuelo, I., Hollidge, S., Wijndaele, K., Wareham, N. J., & Brage, S. (2023). Resting heart rate is a population-level biomarker of cardiorespiratory fitness: The Fenland Study. PLOS ONE, 18(5), e0285272. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285272
Grässler, B., Thielmann, B., Böckelmann, I., & Hökelmann, A. (2021). Effects of different exercise interventions on heart rate variability and cardiovascular health factors in older adults: A systematic review. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 18. https://eurapa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s11556-021-00278-6
Grimaud, Q., Malloggi, L., Moret, L., Rowe, F., Fleury-Bahi, G., & Tripodi, D. (2025). Factors for adherence to a physical activity promotion program in the workplace: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 1827. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22775-4
Guo, L., & Wang, C. (2025). The effect of exercise on cardiovascular disease risk factors in sedentary population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, Article 1470947. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1470947/full
Harris, A. D., McGregor, J. C., Perencevich, E. N., Furuno, J. P., Zhu, J., Peterson, D. E., & Finkelstein, J. (2022). The use and interpretation of quasi-experimental studies in medical informatics. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 29(3), 463–469. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocab258
Halling Ullberg, O., Toivanen, S., Tillander, A., & Bälter, K. (2023). Workplace health promotion to facilitate physical activity among office workers in Sweden. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175977/full
Jones, R. L., Clay, G., El-Bikam, T., & Bargh, M. J. (2026). From assessment to impact: How workplace health screening informs staff wellbeing in a university setting. Healthcare, 14(7), 912. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/14/7/912
Kang, M. G., Reyes, P. C., Gelisanga, M. A., Vicente, S. R., Pituk, J., Bañas, A., Futalan, R. J., & Pagkatipunan, P. M. (2025). Physical activity levels of faculty in higher education institutions in the Philippines during peri-pandemic times: A comparative analysis. Health Promotion & Physical Activity, 31(2), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.55225/hppa.676
Karatrantou, K., Batatolis, C., Chatzigiannis, P., Vasilopoulou, T., Melissopoulou, A., Ioakimidis, P., & Gerodimos, V. (2023). An enjoyable workplace combined exercise program for health promotion in trained employees: Yoga, Pilates, and circuit strength training. Sports, 11(4), 84. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/11/4/84
Kim, S. H., Cho, S., Kim, H., et al. (2026). Occupational physical activity and blood pressure: The role of leisure time physical activity and sex differences. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 41, e94. https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1516094766
Landais, L. L., Jelsma, J. G. M., Dotinga, I. R., Timmermans, D. R. M., Verhagen, E. A. L. M., & Damman, O. C. (2022). Office workers’ perspectives on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 621. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13024-z
Layag, M. J., & Ofrin, D. D. (2024). Level of physical activity and sedentary behavior towards physical well-being of secondary teachers. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, 12(6), 82–95. https://doi.org/10.18535/ijsrm/v12i06.pe01
Laurito, A. A., Tomboc, M. G. L. M., Paulo, T. R. J., & Quitoriano, K. L. K. (2025). Health-seeking behavior and interpersonal influences among hypertensive patients in an urban community. medRxiv. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.12.25329475.abstract
Liu, M., Xiong, X., Xiao, D., Chen, H., & Liu, S. (2025). Effectiveness of interventions based on Social Cognitive Theory in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(3), e70026. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.70026
Masuadi, E., et al. (2026). Results of a workplace wellness program in the United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2026.1726817/full
Masuadi, E., Mohammad, A., Al Hosani, S., et al. (2026). Improvements in body composition, functional capacity, and cardiovascular fitness: Results of a workplace wellness program in the United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13050850/
McKim, C. A. (2021). The value of mixed methods research: A mixed methods study. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 15(2), 202–219. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689820956807
Motuma, A., Gobena, T., Roba, K. T., Berhane, Y., & Worku, A. (2022). Long sedentary time is associated with worsened cardiometabolic risk factors among university employees in Eastern Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 12, Article 22173. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26762-2
Negussie, A., Clark, B., Addissie, A., Worku, A., & Girma, E. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in Ethiopian office-based employees: A qualitative formative research using the social-ecological model. Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors, 4. https://jassb.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44167-025-00083-x
Ogunyemi, S. A., Awotidebe, T. O., Fasakin, O. M., et al. (2023). Assessment of physical inactivity level, work-related stress, and cardiovascular disease risk among Nigerian university staff members. Journal of Clinical Preventive Cardiology, 12(2). https://journals.lww.com/jcpc/fulltext/2023/12020/assessment_of_physical_inactivity_level,.6.aspx