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April 1, 2021BMJ Open Sport & Exercise MedicineOpen Access

Endurance exercise and the risk of cardiovascular pathology in men: a comparison between lifelong and late-onset endurance training and a non-athletic lifestyle - rationale and design of the Master@Heart study, a prospective cohort trial

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Key result

The Master@Heart study is a prospective cohort trial designed to assess the incidence of mixed coronary plaques in male lifelong and late-onset endurance athletes compared to healthy non-athletes.

Why the study?

The health benefits of strenuous, prolonged endurance exercise have been challenged, as higher doses have been linked to greater coronary plaque burden, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial fibrosis.

Does lifelong or late-onset endurance training increase the incidence of mixed coronary plaques compared to a non-athletic lifestyle in men aged 45-70?

Comparison

Lifelong vs late-onset endurance athletes vs healthy non-athletes

Design

Multicentre prospective cohort study

Follow-up

1 year

Authors

RBRuben De BosscherPreventive CardiologyCDChristophe DausinPreventive CardiologyPCPiet ClausCardiac Imaging

Discussion

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Member takes

Overview

High-volume endurance exercise may warrant caution for AF and plaque risks; leaves open causality and safe thresholds.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=600)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does lifelong or late-onset endurance training increase the incidence of mixed coronary plaques compared to a non-athletic lifestyle in men aged 45-70?

P
Population
600 male participants aged 45-70, comprising lifelong endurance athletes, late-onset endurance athletes, and healthy non-athletes, undergoing comprehensive cardiovascular phenotyping with 1-year follow-up.
E
Exposure
Lifelong endurance training and late-onset endurance training
C
Comparator
Healthy non-athletic lifestyle
O
Outcome
Incidence of mixed coronary plaquessurrogate

The Master@Heart study is designed to assess whether high doses of endurance exercise are associated with greater coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial fibrosis.

Cite This Study

Bosscher et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular pathology (n=600). Lifelong and late-onset endurance training vs. Healthy non-athletes was evaluated on Incidence of mixed coronary plaques. The Master@Heart study is a prospective cohort trial designed to assess the incidence of mixed coronary plaques in male lifelong and late-onset endurance athletes compared to healthy non-athletes.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9150fcbd296d8bc5120439https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001048
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Lifelong endurance exercise and its relation with coronary atherosclerosis2023 · 138 citations
  2. 2Cardiovascular screening of master athletes: insights from the Master Athletes Screening Study2023 · 9 citations
  3. 3Cardiovascular Remodeling and Potential Controversies in Master Endurance Athletes—A Narrative Review2025 · 3 citations
  4. 4Absence of cardiac damage induced by long-term intensive endurance exercise training: A cardiac magnetic resonance and exercise echocardiography analysis in masters athletes2021 · 18 citations
  5. 5Master Endurance Athletes and Cardiovascular Controversies2020 · 22 citations