Rate of cardiac arrhythmias and silent brain lesions in experienced marathon runners: rationale, design and baseline data of the Berlin Beat of Running study

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

Study Protocol

Juliane Herm¹  Jochen B Fiebach¹  Marc Hohenhaus¹  Claudia Kunze¹  Peter U Heuschmann²  Wilhelm Haverkamp³  Gerhard Jan Jungehulsing⁴  Karl Georg Haeusler⁴  Matthias Endres⁵  Jürgen Lock⁶  Matthias Krüll⁶  Lars Brechtel⁷ 

[1] Center for Stroke Research University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, BerlinCharité, Germany;Center for Stroke Research University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, BerlinCharité, Germany;Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, Center for Clinical Studies and Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany;Department of Cardiology, Campus Vichow-Klinikum, Berlin, Charité, Germany;Department of Neurology, Charité Berlin Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany;Center for Stroke Research University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, BerlinCharité, Germany;Department of Neurology, Charité Berlin Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany;Center for Stroke Research University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, BerlinCharité, Germany;Excellence Cluster NeuroCure, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany;SMS Sports Medicine Berlin, Medical Institute of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Germany;Berliner Akademie für Sportmedizin e.V, Berlin, Germany;SMS Sports Medicine Berlin, Medical Institute of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Germany;Berliner Akademie für Sportmedizin e.V, Berlin, Germany;Department of Sports Medicine, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany;

关键词: Marathon running;    ECG-recording;    Magnetic resonance imaging;    Blood sampling;    Cardiac arrhythmia;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2261-12-69

 received in 2011-12-22, accepted in 2012-08-01,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRegular exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular health but a recent meta-analysis indicated a relationship between extensive endurance sport and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, an independent risk factor for stroke. However, data on the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias or (clinically silent) brain lesions during and after marathon running are missing.Methods/ DesignIn the prospective observational “Berlin Beat of Running” study experienced endurance athletes underwent clinical examination (CE), 3 Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), carotid ultrasound imaging (CUI) and serial blood sampling (BS) within 2-3 days prior (CE, MRI, CUI, BS), directly after (CE, BS) and within 2 days after (CE, MRI, BS) the 38th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2011. All participants wore a portable electrocardiogram (ECG)-recorder throughout the 4 to 5 days baseline study period. Participants with pathological MRI findings after the marathon, troponin elevations or detected cardiac arrhythmias will be asked to undergo cardiac MRI to rule out structural abnormalities. A follow-up is scheduled after one year.ResultsHere we report the baseline data of the enrolled 110 athletes aged 36-61 years. Their mean age was 48.8 ± 6.0 years, 24.5% were female, 8.2% had hypertension and 2.7% had hyperlipidaemia. Participants have attended a mean of 7.5 ± 6.6 marathon races within the last 5 years and a mean of 16 ± 36 marathon races in total. Their weekly running distance prior to the 38th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON was 65 ± 17 km. Finally, 108 (98.2%) Berlin Beat-Study participants successfully completed the 38th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2011.DiscussionFindings from the “Berlin Beats of Running” study will help to balance the benefits and risks of extensive endurance sport. ECG-recording during the marathon might contribute to identify athletes at risk for cardiovascular events. MRI results will give new insights into the link between physical stress and brain damage.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT01428778

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Haeusler et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012