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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. [GRAPHICS] . This study is supported by a research grant (T003717N) and R.W. is supported as a post-doctoral clinical researcher by the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen), Brussels, Belgium The authors would like to thank the many staff members at the three sites for helping conduct this study. We would particularly like to thank the clinical research assistants Sofie van Soest, Dorien Vermeulen, and Daisy Thijs for their dedication and devoted efforts to include, test, and follow up participants. We would like to thank Ann Belmans for calculating the sample size and statistical advice. We would also like to thank Kris Van der Mieren (Sport- en keuringsartsen), Tom Teuglinckx (Sport- en keuringsartsen), Reynout Van Schuylenbergh (Triatlon Vlaanderen), Frank Glorieux (Cycling Vlaanderen), Paul Rowe (Sport Vlaanderen), Gert Van Goolen (Golazo), and Sven Nys (Golazo and godfather of Master@Heart) as members of the advisory committee for their insightful input on the design, the launch, and approach of the Master@Heart study.

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is the most accurate cardiac ultrasound technique to assess cardiac structure. 3DE has shown close correlation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in various populations. There is limited data on the accuracy of 3DE in athletes and its value in detecting alterations during follow-up. Indexed left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDVi, RVEDVi), end-systolic volume, ejection fraction (LVEF, RVEF) and left ventricular mass (LVMi) were assessed by 3DE and CMR in two-hundred and one competitive endurance athletes (79% male) from the Pro@Heart trial. Sixty-four athletes were assessed at 2 year follow-up. Linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses compared 3DE and CMR at baseline and follow-up. Interquartile analysis evaluated the agreement as cardiac volumes and mass increase. 3DE showed strong correlation with CMR (LVEDVi r = 0.91, LVEF r = 0.85, LVMi r = 0.84, RVEDVi r = 0.84, RVEF r = 0.86 p < 0.001). At follow up, the percentage change by 3DE and CMR were similar ( increment LVEDVi r = 0.96 bias - 0.3%, increment LVEF r = 0.94, bias 0.7%, increment LVMi r = 0.94 bias 0.8%, increment RVESVi r = 0.93, bias 1.2%, increment RVEF r = 0.87 bias 0.4%). 3DE underestimated volumes (LVEDVi bias - 18.5 mL/m(2), RVEDVi bias - 25.5 mL/m(2)) and the degree of underestimation increased with larger dimensions (Q1vsQ4 LVEDVi relative bias - 14.5 versus - 17.4%, p = 0.016; Q1vsQ4 RVEDVi relative bias - 17 versus - 21.9%, p = 0.005). Measurements of cardiac volumes, mass and function by 3DE correlate well with CMR and 3DE accurately detects changes over time. 3DE underestimates volumes and the relative bias increases with larger cardiac size.

Cardiac screening of elite athletes including a 12‑lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is recommended by numerous international bodies. Current athlete ECG interpretation guidelines recommend the Bazett method to correct the QT interval (QTc).This study sought to investigate normative QTc changes by age using athlete screening ECGs and different QT correction methods in a population of elite cricketers.Initial cardiac screening ECGs from an existing database of elite Australian cricketers aged 14-35 years were examined. Average QT interval, QTcB (corrected QT-Bazett), QTcF (Fridericia), QTcH (Hodges), and heart rate (HR) were analyzed by age and sex.A total of 1310 athletes (66% male, 34% female) were included with mean age 19.1 years and mean heart rate 66.9 bpm (range 38-121 bpm). With increasing age, HR decreased and absolute QT increased. The pattern of QTc change with age differed depending on the method of correction: Bazett correction (QTcB) demonstrated a "dish-shaped" or broad U-shaped appearance; while Fridericia and Hodges corrections showed a linear increase in QTc from young to older age. The Bazett method had a stronger correlation of HR with QTc (RThe Bazett method is not the most accurate QT correction in athletes, especially during adolescence. In elite cricketers, QTcB revealed a drop in QTc from adolescence to early adulthood due to mis-correction of the QT interval. The Fridericia method has the smoothest correction of HR and least QT variation by age and may be preferred for athlete screening.

Reduced exercise tolerance and fatigue are hallmark features in both breast cancer (BC) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and are associated with decreased physical function and quality of life. This brief review focuses on the mechanisms of exercise intolerance in women with BC across the survivorship continuum and highlights how these disturbances within the oxygen transport cascade are similar to that of HFpEF patients. Specifically, the role that impaired cardiac, peripheral vascular and skeletal muscle function play in limiting peak oxygen uptake are discussed. We propose that women with BC are at increased risk of developing HFpEF potentially due to the adverse effects of chemotherapy and concurrent adverse lifestyle behaviors on cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function.

Aims The causes, circumstances, and preventability of young sudden cardiac arrest remain uncertain. Methods and results A prospective state-wide multi-source registry identified all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in 1–50 year olds in Victoria, Australia, from 2019 to 2021. Cases were adjudicated using hospital and forensic records, clinic assessments and interviews of survivors and family members. For confirmed cardiac causes of OHCA, circumstances and cardiac history were collected. National time-use data was used to contextualize circumstances. 1319 OHCAs were included. 725 (55.0%) cases had a cardiac aetiology of OHCA, with coronary disease (n = 314, 23.8%) the most common pathology. Drug toxicity (n = 226, 17.1%) was the most common non-cardiac cause of OHCA and the second-most common cause overall. OHCAs were most likely to occur in sleep (n = 233, 41.2%). However, when compared to the typical Australian day, OHCAs occurred disproportionately more commonly during exercise (9% of patients vs. 1.3% of typical day, P = 0.018) and less commonly while sedentary (39.6 vs. 54.6%, P = 0.047). 38.2% of patients had known standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. 77% of patients with a cardiac cause of OHCA had not reported cardiac symptoms nor been evaluated by a cardiologist prior to their OHCA. Conclusion Approximately half of OHCAs in the young have a cardiac cause, with coronary disease and drug toxicity dominant aetiologies. OHCAs disproportionately occur during exercise. Of patients with cardiac cause of OHCA, almost two-thirds have no standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and more than three-quarters had no prior warning symptoms or interaction with a cardiologist.

BACKGROUND Sudden cardiac death (SCD) during physical exercise is devastating. We aimed to evaluate causes and circumstances of exercise-related SCD in the young in Australia. METHODS We reviewed the National Coronial Information System database for deaths in Australia relating to cardiovascular disease in cases aged 10-35 years between 2000-2016. Included cases had undertaken physical exercise at time of event. We collected demographics, circumstances of death, type of physical exercise, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use prior to ambulance arrival. RESULTS Over a 17-year period, 1,925 SCD cases were identified of which 110 cases (6%) (median age 27 years [interquartile range [IQR] 21-32 years], 92% male) were related to sports/physical exercise. Thirteen cases (12%) occurred in active athletes. Most common causes were coronary artery disease (CAD; 37%) and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS; 20%). Amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (n=10), all deaths were related to CAD. Australian Rules Football (24%), running/jogging (14%) and soccer (14%) were the most frequent physical exercise activities. Prior symptoms were present in 39% (chest pain 37%, presyncope/syncope 26%). Most were witnessed (87%) with bystander CPR in 70%. AED use prior to ambulance arrival was 8%. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the high occurrence of CAD and SADS in SCD in the young related to physical exercise. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were disproportionately affected by CAD. Although events were commonly witnessed, AED was seldom used prior to ambulance arrival and highlights an important opportunity to improve outcomes in the post-arrest chain of survival. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.