To explore the muscle mass index (MMI) among adolescents in Xinjiang's agricultural and pastoral areas and its association with cardiovascular risk factors, providing references and basis for the prevention and intervention of cardiovascular diseases among adolescents in these regions.

From March to July 2023, a total of 1 842 students aged 13-18 years from four middle schools in Yili agricultural and pastoral areas of Xinjiang were selected using cluster random sampling. Measurements of muscle mass, physical indicators, questionnaires, and blood samples were conducted and analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Logistic regression analysis.

There were significant differences in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, muscle mass, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting blood glucose among adolescents with severe, insufficient, good, and sufficient MMI in Xinjiang's agricultural and pastoral areas(F=326.78, 634.76, 261.67, 134.56, 80.14, 16.78, 5.84, 21.67, 3.42, P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting age and BMI, the risk of cardiovascular risk factors aggregation in adolescents with good (OR=0.55-0.62) and adequate (OR=0.52-0.57) MMI were lower than that in adolescents with insufficient MMI (P < 0.05). After gender stratification, the risk of cardiovascular risk factors aggregation in adolescents with good MMI for boys (OR=0.48-0.62) and with good MMI for girls (OR=0.61) were also lower than that in adolescents with insufficient MMI (P < 0.05).

MMI in adolescents from agricultural and pastoral areas of Xinjiang are positively correlated with cardiovascular health. Future efforts should focus on muscle strength training for adolescents in these areas, as improving MMI can play a positive role in promoting cardiovascular health in adolescents.