Exercise Training In Athletes With Heart Disease

Abstract

Exercise events and sport participation have increased over recent decades. The average age of sports participants has also increased with a potential parallel increase in the number of exercise participants with both occult and diagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD). Habitual physical activity and exercise training reduce atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk in a curvilinear fashion by affecting multiple ASCVD risk factors. Nonetheless, exercise also increases the risk of sudden cardiac death in both young and adult individuals with occult CVD making it important to balance the risks and benefits of exercise and exercise training in these individuals. There are essentially no carefully designed clinical trials to inform clinicians how to definitely manage athletes with occult CVD. We provide a narrative review of the risks and benefits of exercise in active individuals with CVD, and our approach to evaluating and managing these risks.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Congenital cardiac disease; Coronary artery disease; Exercise; Exercise training; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Myocardial infarction; Physical activity athlete; Sudden cardiac death.