Leisure sport activity as a trigger for acute coronary events in men without known coronary artery disease A single-center case study

Introduction. Leisure sport activity (LSA) is gaining in importance among middle-aged and senior men in the German population. There is a consensus that regular aerobic exercise at moderate intensities and increased physical fitness are associated with a reduced risk of fatal and nonfatal acute cardiac events (ACE) in middle-aged individuals. However, vigorous exercise (VE) can acutely and transiently increase the risk of an ACE in susceptible individuals. There is an ongoing discussion as to whether preparticipation screening may prevent such events. This case study characterizes patients participating in LSA who had not been involved in preparticipation screening prior to their ACE. Methods. In the period between June 2003 and July 2009, all consecutive patients with an ACE presenting at the catheter laboratory were retrospectively screened for VE that had occurred during LSA. All 13 men with previously unknown coronary artery disease (CAD) had exercised regularly. All patients underwent coronary angiography. This study characterized clinical parameters, duration of LSA, coronary diagnostic procedure, as well as therapeutic intervention. Results. In seven patients, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors comprised arterial hypertension in seven, hyperlipidemia in seven, smoking or former smoking in two, family history of CV disease in four, and previous peripheral atherosclerotic disease in two. The culprit lesion was identified in seven patients in the left anterior descending artery, in four in the right coronary artery, and in two in the circumflex artery. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 65% (45-84). The mean complexity of the lesions using the syntax score was 17 (2-36). PCI was performed in 12 patients, while one patient was transferred for coronary artery bypass grafts. All patients survived their ACE. Conclusion. This case study supports the data indicating that ACE in men with previously unknown CAD is not uncommon during LSA. This patient cohort provides data on a group of patients who might benefit from preparticipation screening.