Key result
Long-term vigorous endurance training in male athletes is associated with an increased calcium score and higher burden of calcified atherosclerotic plaque compared to sedentary controls.
Why the study?
While moderate endurance training improves cardiovascular risk factors and prolongs life expectancy, there has been discussion whether excessive exercise might accelerate coronary atherosclerosis.
Does long-term vigorous endurance training affect coronary atherosclerosis in male athletes compared to sedentary controls?
Does long-term vigorous endurance training affect coronary atherosclerosis in male athletes compared to sedentary controls?
Long-term vigorous endurance training in male athletes is associated with increased coronary calcium scores and plaque burden, though plaques tend to be more calcified, with unclear clinical relevance.
Warrants caution in interpreting CAC among veteran endurance athletes; leaves open prognostic relevance for events.
Moderate endurance training is known to improve cardiovascular risk factors, and prolongs life expectancy. On the other hand, there has been some discussion whether “too much” exercise might have a contrarious effect by accelerating coronary atherosclerosis. The goal of this review was to evaluate the current literature on the effects of long-term vigorous endurance training on the coronary vasculature. In summary, data point to an increased calcium score, and a higher burden of atherosclerotic plaque in male athletes compared to sedentary controls. However, the plaques found in athletes were more prone to be calcified. The pathogenesis and clinical relevance of this athlete coronary artery disease phenotype remains incompletely understood and represents an area of important future work.
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A 2019 study conducted a review in Coronary atherosclerosis. Long-term vigorous endurance training vs. Sedentary controls was evaluated on Coronary calcium score and atherosclerotic plaque burden. Long-term vigorous endurance training in male athletes is associated with an increased calcium score and higher burden of calcified atherosclerotic plaque compared to sedentary controls.
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