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Observational Study
. 2020 Jul;27(11):1212-1221.
doi: 10.1177/2047487319852808. Epub 2019 Jun 1.

Occult obstructive coronary artery disease is associated with prolonged cardiac troponin elevation following strenuous exercise

Øyunn Kleiven  1 , Torbjørn Omland  2 , Øyvind Skadberg  3 , Tor H Melberg  1 , Magnus F Bjørkavoll-Bergseth  1 , Bjørn Auestad  4   5 , Rolf Bergseth  6 , Ole J Greve  7 , Kristin M Aakre  8   9   10 , Stein Ørn  1   11
Affiliations
Observational Study

Occult obstructive coronary artery disease is associated with prolonged cardiac troponin elevation following strenuous exercise

Øyunn Kleiven et al. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Sudden cardiac death among middle-aged recreational athletes is predominantly due to myocardial ischaemia. This study examined whether measuring cardiac troponin I and T (cTnI and cTnT) after strenuous exercise could identify occult obstructive coronary artery disease.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from 1002 asymptomatic recreational cyclists completing a 91-km mountain bike race (North Sea Race Endurance Exercise Study). No subject had known cardiovascular disease or took cardiovascular medication. Blood samples were collected within 24 h before and 3 h and 24 h after the race. Coronary computed tomography angiography was performed in 80 participants with the highest post-exercise cTnI and in 40 reference subjects with moderately elevated cTnI values.

Results: Study subjects (N = 120) were 45 (36-52) years old and 74% were male. There were similar demographics in the High-cTnI group and the Reference group. The cTn concentrations were highest at 3 h post-race: cTnI, 224 (125-304) ng/L; cTnT, 89 (55-124) ng/L. Nine subjects had obstructive coronary artery disease on coronary computed tomography angiography, eight of whom were High-cTnI responders. Two subjects had myocardial bridging, both High-cTnI responders. Troponin concentrations at 24 h post-race were higher in subjects with obstructive coronary artery disease than in the rest of the cohort (n = 109): cTnI, 151 (72-233) ng/L vs. 24 (19-82) ng/L, p = 0.005; cTnT, 39 (25-55) ng/L vs. 20 (14-31) ng/L, p = 0.002. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting obstructive coronary artery disease were 0.79, p = 0.005 (cTnI) and 0.82, p = 0.002 (cTnT).

Conclusion: In subjects with occult obstructive coronary artery disease there was a prolonged elevation of cTn following strenuous exercise.

Keywords: Exercise-induced troponin; coronary artery disease; exercise; recreational sport.

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