Association of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality With High Levels of Physical Activity and Concurrent Coronary Artery Calcification

Endurance exercise training volume is not associated with progression of coronary artery calcification

BACKGROUND

Recent cross-sectional studies have suggested a dose-dependent relationship between lifelong exposure to physical activity and the burden of calcified coronary artery disease (CAD). No longitudinal studies have addressed this concern.

HYPOTHESIS

Exercise volume is associated with progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC), defined as ≥10 units increase in CAC score.

METHODS

Sixty-one recreational athletes who were assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as part of the NEEDED 2013/14 study were re-assessed 4-5 years later, in 2018.

RESULTS

Subjects were 45.9 ± 9.6 years old at inclusion, and 46 (74%) were male. Between 2013 and 2018, the participants reported median 5 (range: 0-20, 25th-75th percentile: 4-6) hours of high-intensity exercise per week. None of the included subjects smoked during follow-up. At inclusion, 21 (33%) participants had coronary artery calcifications. On follow-up CCTA in 2018, 15 (25%) subjects had progressive coronary calcification (≥10 Agatston units increase in CAC). These subjects were older (53 ± 9 vs 44 ± 9 years old, P = .002) and had higher levels of low-density lipoprotein at baseline (3.5 (2.9-4.3) vs 2.9 (2.3-3.5) mmol/L, P = .031) as compared to subjects with stable condition. No relationship was found between hours of endurance training per week and progression of coronary artery calcification. In multiple regression analysis, age and baseline CAC were the only significant predictors of progressive CAC.

CONCLUSION

No relationship between exercise training volume and the progression of coronary artery calcification was found in this longitudinal study of middle-aged recreational athletes.

Exercise-Related Acute Cardiovascular Events and Potential Deleterious Adaptations Following Long-Term Exercise Training: Placing the Risks Into Perspective-An Update: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Epidemiological and biological plausibility studies support a cause-and-effect relationship between increased levels of physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced coronary heart disease events. These data, plus the well-documented anti-aging effects of exercise, have likely contributed to the escalating numbers of adults who have embraced the notion that "more exercise is better." As a result, worldwide participation in endurance training, competitive long distance endurance events, and high-intensity interval training has increased markedly since the previous American Heart Association statement on exercise risk. On the other hand, vigorous physical activity, particularly when performed by unfit individuals, can acutely increase the risk of sudden cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction in susceptible people. Recent studies have also shown that large exercise volumes and vigorous intensities are both associated with potential cardiac maladaptations, including accelerated coronary artery calcification, exercise-induced cardiac biomarker release, myocardial fibrosis, and atrial fibrillation. The relationship between these maladaptive responses and physical activity often forms a U- or reverse J-shaped dose-response curve. This scientific statement discusses the cardiovascular and health implications for moderate to vigorous physical activity, as well as high-volume, high-intensity exercise regimens, based on current understanding of the associated risks and benefits. The goal is to provide healthcare professionals with updated information to advise patients on appropriate preparticipation screening and the benefits and risks of physical activity or physical exertion in varied environments and during competitive events.

Does a pulmonary rehabilitation based ERAS program (PREP) affect pulmonary complication incidence, pulmonary function and quality of life after lung cancer surgery? Study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer surgery is associated with a high incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Preliminary evidence suggests that ERAS processes can reduce overall incidence of PPCs as short- and long-term recovery improved by supporting units to adopt evidence-based care. However, the evidence is inconclusive due to insufficient high-level studies in this research field. No well-designed, adequately powered, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation based ERAS program (PREP) on post-operative pulmonary complications, pulmonary function, and health related quality of life following lung cancer surgery.

METHODS

The PREP trial is a pragmatic, investigator-initiated, multi-center, randomized controlled, parallel group, clinical trial. Five hundred patients scheduled for minimally invasive pulmonary resection at six hospitals in China will be randomized with concealed allocation to receive either i) a pre-operative assessment and an information booklet or ii) a pre-operative assessment, an information booklet, plus an additional education, a 30-min pulmonary rehabilitation training session and the post-operative pulmonary rehabilitation program. The primary outcome is incidence of PPCs defined with the Melbourne Group Scale diagnostic scoring tool. Secondary outcomes include incidence of cardiopulmonary and other complications, pulmonary function, cardiopulmonary endurance, muscle strength, activity level, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pre- and post-operative hospital length of stay (LOS), and total hospital LOS.

DISCUSSION

The PREP trial is designed to verify the hypothesis that pulmonary rehabilitation based ERAS program reduces incidence of PPCs and improves pulmonary function and HRQoL in patients following lung cancer surgery. This trial will furthermore contribute significantly to the limited knowledge about the pulmonary rehabilitation based ERAS program following lung cancer surgery, and may thereby form the basis of future recommendations in the surgical community.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024646, 21 July 2019.

Coronary atherosclerosis in middle-aged athletes: Current insights, burning questions, and future perspectives

Regular exercise training is considered healthy as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Nevertheless, athletes are not immune to the development of cardiovascular diseases and recent studies reported a higher prevalence of coronary artery calcifications and atherosclerotic plaques in athletes compared to less active controls. These observations have raised many questions among sport scientists, sports cardiologists, amateur athletes, and the general population. For example, Are athletes (not) immune for coronary atherosclerosis? How to assess coronary atherosclerosis in athletes? What about chalk (calcified plaque) and cheese (mixed plaque)? Does exercise intensity play a role? Are there sport‐related differences? Are there sex differences? Can sports medical evaluation detect coronary atherosclerosis? Do athletes get worried? Should athletes get worried? How should athletes with coronary atherosclerosis be managed? The goal of this review is to discuss the latest scientific insights and to answer these important questions. Furthermore, we will explore potential clinical implications and point out directions for further research.

Associations of recreational and non-recreational physical activity with coronary artery calcium density vs. volume and cardiovascular disease events: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

AIMS

The benefits of physical activity (PA) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well known. However, studies suggest PA is associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a subclinical marker of CVD. In this study, we evaluated the associations of self-reported recreational and non-recreational PA with CAC composition and incident CVD events. Prior studies suggest high CAC density may be protective for CVD events.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated 3393 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with prevalent CAC. After adjusting for demographics, the highest quintile of recreational PA was associated with 0.07 (95% confidence interval 0.01-0.13) units greater CAC density but was not associated with CAC volume. In contrast, the highest quintile of non-recreational PA was associated with 0.08 (0.02-0.14) units lower CAC density and a trend toward 0.13 (-0.01 to 0.27) log-units higher CAC volume. There were 520 CVD events over a 13.7-year median follow-up. Recreational PA was associated with lower CVD risk (hazard ratio 0.88, 0.79-0.98, per standard deviation), with an effect size that was not changed with adjustment for CAC composition or across levels of prevalent CAC.

CONCLUSION

Recreational PA may be associated with a higher density but not a higher volume of CAC. Non-recreational PA may be associated with lower CAC density, suggesting these forms of PA may not have equivalent associations with this subclinical marker of CVD. While PA may affect the composition of CAC, the associations of PA with CVD risk appear to be independent of CAC.

Promoting physical activity in primary and secondary prevention

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Changes in exercise frequency and cardiovascular outcomes in older adults

Aims

Little is known about the association of changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) level with cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially in older adults whose ability to engage in frequent MVPA naturally wanes as they age. We aimed to examine the association of changes in MVPA and CVD in older adults.

Methods and results

In a nationwide cohort study of older adults aged 60 years or older, we identified more than 1.1 million subjects without previous history of CVD at baseline who underwent two consecutive national health screening from 2009 to 2012. We prospectively assessed the risk of CVD occurred between 2013 and 2016 according to changes in frequency of MVPA by initial MVPA status. Compared to those who were continuously physically inactive, those who increased their frequency of MVPA from physically inactive to 1–2 times per week [0.7/1000 person-years (PY) decrease in incidence rate (IR); adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92–0.99], 3–4 times per week (1.5/1000 PY decrease in IR; aHR 0.89; 95% CI 0.84–0.94), ≥5 times per week (0.4/1000 PY decrease in IR; aHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85–0.97) had a significantly reduced risk for total CVD (P for trend <0.001). Older adults who became physically inactive from engaging in more than 1–2 times of MVPA per week had a higher CVD risk compared to those who maintained their frequency of MVPA.

Conclusion

Among older adults, engaging in higher frequency of MVPA or maintaining MVPA level was associated with reduced risk of CVD.

Interactive and Multifactorial Mechanisms of Calcific Vascular and Valvular Disease

Calcific vascular and valvular disease (CVVD) is widespread and has major health consequences. Although coronary artery calcification has long been associated with hyperlipidemia and increased mortality, recent evidence suggests that its progression is increased in association with cholesterol-lowering HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ('statins') and long-term, high-intensity exercise. A nationwide trial showed no cardiovascular benefit of vitamin D supplements. Controversy remains as to whether calcium deposits in plaque promote or prevent plaque rupture. CVVD appears to occur through mechanisms similar to those of intramembranous, endochondral, and osteophytic skeletal bone formation. New evidence implicates autotaxin, endothelial-mesenchymal transformation, and microRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as novel regulatory factors. New therapeutic options are being developed.

Mortality during marathons: a narrative review of the literature

Background

Millions of community-dwelling individuals run marathons each year. There are infrequent deaths, which are often reported widely, and may create unnecessary alarm about the potential risks. Equally, sensible planning for such eventualities is important when staging an event.

Objective

The aim of the review was to determine the risk of death from running a marathon and the likely location of such deaths in order to inform the public of the likely risks and improve planning for such events.

Design

Narrative review.

Data sources

Primary: PubMed. Secondary: contact was made with the organisers and medical teams of specific marathons and online data sought where necessary.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Studies had to report the number of participants and deaths during, or within 24 hours of completing the marathon. Results relevant to half marathons or ultramarathons or other endurance events, such as triathlons, were not included. Deaths due to terrorist activity were not included.

Results

The risk of death estimated by these studies was approximately 0.67 per 100 000 finishers, that is, 1 death per 149 968 participants. From those studies that reported deaths by sex, the rate of male deaths was 0.98/100 000 (1 per 102 503) vs 0.41/100 000 (1 per 243 879) in females. Deaths tended to occur in the last quarter of the race.

Summary/conclusion

The risk of death from participating in a marathon is small. Men are more at risk than women. Deaths tend to occur later in the race.