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Aengevaeren, VL, Mosterd, A, Braber, TL, Prakken, NHJ, Doevendans, PA, Grobbee, DE, Thompson, PD, Eijsvogels, TMH and Velthuis, BK (2017) The Relationship Between Lifelong Exercise Volume and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Athletes. Circulation, 136 (2). pp. 138-148. ISSN 1524-4539
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Abstract
Background -Higher levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, there is debate on the dose-response relationship of exercise and CVD outcomes and whether high volumes of exercise may accelerate coronary atherosclerosis. We aimed to determine the relationship between lifelong exercise volumes and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods -Middle aged men engaged in competitive or recreational leisure sports underwent a non-contrast and contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan to assess coronary artery calcification (CAC) and plaque characteristics. Participants reported lifelong exercise history patterns. Exercise volumes were multiplied by Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) scores to calculate MET-min/week. Participants were categorized as <1000 MET-min/week, 1000-2000 MET-min/week or >2000 MET-min/week. Results -284 men (55±7 years) were included. CAC was present in 150/284 (53%) participants with a median CAC score of 35.8 [9.3-145.8). Athletes with a lifelong exercise volume >2000 MET-min/week (n=75) had a significantly higher CAC score (9.4 [0-60.9] versus 0 [0-43.5], p=.02) and prevalence of CAC (68%,ORadjusted=3.2 (95%CI: 1.6-6.6)) and plaque (77%, ORadjusted=3.3 (95%CI: 1.6-7.1)) compared to <1000 MET-min/week (n=88, 43% and 56% respectively). Very vigorous intensity exercise (≥9 METs) was associated with CAC (ORadjusted=1.47 (95%CI: 1.14-1.91)) and plaque (ORadjusted=1.56 (95%CI: 1.17-2.08)). Among participants with CAC>0, there was no difference in CAC score (p=.20), area (p=.21), density (p=.25) and regions of interest (p=.20) across exercise volume groups. Among participants with plaque, the most active group (>2000 MET-min/week) had a lower prevalence of mixed plaques (48% versus 69%, ORadjusted=0.35 (95%CI: 0.15-0.85) and more often had only calcified plaques (38% versus 16%, ORadjusted=3.57 (95%CI: 1.28-9.97)) compared to the least active group (<1000 MET-min/week). Conclusions -Participants in the >2000 MET-min/week group had a higher prevalence of CAC and atherosclerotic plaques. The most active group did however have a more benign composition of plaques, with fewer mixed plaques and more often only calcified plaques. These observations may explain the increased longevity typical of endurance athletes despite the presence of more coronary atherosclerotic plaque in the most active participants.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1102 Cardiovascular Medicine And Haematology, 1117 Public Health And Health Services |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QP Physiology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine |
| Divisions: | Sport & Exercise Sciences |
| Publisher: | American Heart Association |
| Related URLs: | |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Jul 2017 09:32 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2021 11:29 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.027834 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6594 |
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