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Miljoen H, Favere K, Van De Heyning C, Corteville B, Dausin C, Herbots L, Teulingkx T, Bekhuis Y, Lyssens M, Bogaert J, Heidbuchel H, Claessen G. Low rates of myocardial fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in recreational athletes after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1372028. [PMID: 38628312 PMCID: PMC11018940 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1372028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction High rates of cardiac involvement were reported in the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This led to anxiety in the athletic population. The current study was set up to assess the prevalence of myocardial fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in recreational athletes with the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods Consecutive adult recreational athletes (≥18 years old, ≥4 h of mixed type or endurance sports/week) underwent systematic cardiac evaluation after a prior confirmed COVID-19 infection. Evaluation included clinical history, electrocardiogram (ECG), 5-day Holter monitoring, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with simultaneous measurement of high-sensitive cardiac Troponin I. Data from asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic athletes (Group 1) were compared with those with moderate to severe symptoms (Groups 2-3). Furthermore, a comparison with a historical control group of athletes without COVID-19 (Master@Heart) was made. Results In total, 35 athletes (18 Group 1, 10 female, 36.9 ± 2.2 years, mean 143 ± 20 days following diagnosis) were evaluated. The baseline characteristics for the Group 1 and Groups 2-3 athletes were similar. None of the athletes showed overt myocarditis on CMR based on the updated Lake Louise criteria for diagnosis of myocarditis. The prevalence of non-ischemic late gadolinium enhancement [1 (6%) Group 1 vs. 2 (12%) Groups 2-3; p = 0.603] or ventricular arrhythmias [1 Group 1 athlete showed non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (vs. 0 in Groups 2-3: p = 1.000)] were not statistically different between the groups. When the male athletes were compared with the Master@Heart athletes, again no differences regarding these criteria were found. Conclusion In our series of recreational athletes with prior confirmed COVID-19, we found no evidence of ongoing myocarditis, and no more detection of fibrosis or ventricular arrhythmias than in a comparable athletic pre-COVID cohort. This points to a much lower cardiac involvement of COVID-19 in athletes than originally suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hielko Miljoen
- Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, Department GENCOR, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kasper Favere
- Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, Department GENCOR, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Caroline Van De Heyning
- Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, Department GENCOR, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ben Corteville
- Department of Cardiology, Jan Palfijn Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christophe Dausin
- Exercise Physiology Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieven Herbots
- Department of Cardiology, Hartcentrum, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Youri Bekhuis
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Leuven University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Malou Lyssens
- Exercise Physiology Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Bogaert
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, Department GENCOR, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Guido Claessen
- Department of Cardiology, Hartcentrum, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
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Tonet E, Arzenton M, De Pietri M, Canovi L, Lapolla D, Sarti A, Amantea V, Raisi A, Mazzoni G, Campo G, Grazzi G. Coronary Plaque in Athletes. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2044. [PMID: 38610809 PMCID: PMC11012899 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The relationship between vigorous physical activity (PA) and the development of coronary atherosclerosis has remained less explored for many years. Recently, literature data have focused on coronary atherosclerosis in athletes showing that prevalence is not trivial, that there are differences among various types of sport, and that there are some peculiar features. As a matter of fact, plaque composition in athletes seems to be characterized by calcium rather than soft components. Specific mechanisms through which vigorous PA influences coronary artery disease are not yet fully understood. However, the prevalent calcific nature of coronary plaques in athletes could be related with a trend in a lower cardiovascular event rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Tonet
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Matteo Arzenton
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Marco De Pietri
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Luca Canovi
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Davide Lapolla
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Alberto Sarti
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Veronica Amantea
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Andrea Raisi
- Center for Exercise Science and Sport, University of Ferrara, 44123 Ferrara, Italy; (A.R.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Gianni Mazzoni
- Center for Exercise Science and Sport, University of Ferrara, 44123 Ferrara, Italy; (A.R.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Gianluca Campo
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy; (M.A.); (M.D.P.); (L.C.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (V.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Giovanni Grazzi
- Center for Exercise Science and Sport, University of Ferrara, 44123 Ferrara, Italy; (A.R.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
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De Bosscher R, Dausin C, Claus P, Bogaert J, Dymarkowski S, Goetschalckx K, Ghekiere O, Van De Heyning CM, Van Herck P, Paelinck B, Addouli HE, La Gerche A, Herbots L, Willems R, Heidbuchel H, Claessen G, Claeys M, Hespel P, Dresselaers T, Miljoen H, Belmans A, Favere K, Vermeulen D, Witvrouwen I, Hansen D, Eijnde BO, Thijs D, Vanvoorden P, Van Soest S. Lifelong endurance exercise and its relation with coronary atherosclerosis. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:2388-2399. [PMID: 36881712 PMCID: PMC10327878 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The impact of long-term endurance sport participation (on top of a healthy lifestyle) on coronary atherosclerosis and acute cardiac events remains controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS The Master@Heart study is a well-balanced prospective observational cohort study. Overall, 191 lifelong master endurance athletes, 191 late-onset athletes (endurance sports initiation after 30 years of age), and 176 healthy non-athletes, all male with a low cardiovascular risk profile, were included. Peak oxygen uptake quantified fitness. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of coronary plaques (calcified, mixed, and non-calcified) on computed tomography coronary angiography. Analyses were corrected for multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The median age was 55 (50-60) years in all groups. Lifelong and late-onset athletes had higher peak oxygen uptake than non-athletes [159 (143-177) vs. 155 (138-169) vs. 122 (108-138) % predicted]. Lifelong endurance sports was associated with having ≥1 coronary plaque [odds ratio (OR) 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-2.94], ≥ 1 proximal plaque (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.24-3.11), ≥ 1 calcified plaques (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.01-2.49), ≥ 1 calcified proximal plaque (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.28-3.35), ≥ 1 non-calcified plaque (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.12-3.40), ≥ 1 non-calcified proximal plaque (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.39-5.65), and ≥1 mixed plaque (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.06-2.99) as compared to a healthy non-athletic lifestyle. CONCLUSION Lifelong endurance sport participation is not associated with a more favourable coronary plaque composition compared to a healthy lifestyle. Lifelong endurance athletes had more coronary plaques, including more non-calcified plaques in proximal segments, than fit and healthy individuals with a similarly low cardiovascular risk profile. Longitudinal research is needed to reconcile these findings with the risk of cardiovascular events at the higher end of the endurance exercise spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben De Bosscher
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christophe Dausin
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Claus
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Bogaert
- Division of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Dymarkowski
- Division of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaatje Goetschalckx
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Olivier Ghekiere
- Division of Radiology, Jessa Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaat 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Caroline M Van De Heyning
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Paul Van Herck
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Bernard Paelinck
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Haroun El Addouli
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - André La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Lieven Herbots
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, Hartcentrum, Jessa Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Rik Willems
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Guido Claessen
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
- Division of Cardiology, Hartcentrum, Jessa Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Mathias Claeys
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Hespel
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Dresselaers
- Division of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hielko Miljoen
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Ann Belmans
- I-BioStat, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kasper Favere
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Dorien Vermeulen
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Isabel Witvrouwen
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Dominique Hansen
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- REVAL/BIOMED, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Bert Op’t Eijnde
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- REVAL/BIOMED, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Daisy Thijs
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Peter Vanvoorden
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sofie Van Soest
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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