Magnetic Resonance Technique in the Assessment of Exercise-induced Long- and Short-Term Changes in Cardiac Function and Morphology

NCT01305304 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KEK 005/010 B
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Until now it has been assumed that regular endurance training has a positive influence on cardiac function and that the positive effect increases with increasing intensity. However, little is known about the effects of intense endurance stress on the heart. According to current knowledge repeated exposure to strenuous endurance activity may lead to minor but possibly irreversible damage to the heart with resultant scarring of the heart's muscle. Within this study the investigators attempt to find out by different analytical methods - in particular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound of the heart - to what extent the heart muscle is affected by long term intense endurance exercise and which changes in cardiac function and morphology can possibly be found. Therefore the investigators compare former national competitive endurance athletes with sedentary controls.

Conditions

Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Infarction; Ventricular Remodeling; Myocardial Contraction; Ventricular Hypertrophy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• cardiac fibrosis (area in cm^2) on late contrast enhanced MR images

  at subject enrollment (cross-sectional design)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• systolic/diastolic function and contractility measured by echocardiography

  at subject enrollment (cross-sectional design)

• various parameters of cardiac function and morphology assessed with MRI and echocardiography

  at subject enrollment (cross-sectional design)

• anthropometric data

  at subject enrollment (cross-sectional design)

• VO2max

  at subject enrollment (cross-sectional design)

• resting-ECG

  at subject enrollment (cross-sectional design)

Study Arms (2)

1

15 healthy male "veteran" runners (marathon, triathlon, orienteering) aged between 40 and 65 years with a history of competitive running at a national level during a period of at least 5 years, implicating normally a runner career with at least 50km per week over more than 10 years

Other: repeated long term endurance exercise

2

15 healthy male volunteers, matched for age and bmi, without a history of competitive physical exercise (i.e. sedentary controls)

Other: Other

Interventions

repeated long term endurance exercise OTHER

competitive running at a national level during a period of at least 5 years (i.e. approximately 50km per week over more than 10 years)

1

Other OTHER

No history of endurance sports activity

2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

residents of Switzerland, either with history of national competitive endurance running (cases) or without history of endurance running (controls)

You may qualify if:

• Age 40-65y
• Healthy
• history of national competitive endurance running (cases)
• no history of endurance running (controls)

You may not qualify if:

• Contraindication for MRI
• History of relevant cardiac disease (including cardiomyopathies)
• coronary heart disease
• coronary abnormalities
• cardiovascular risk factors
• History of any chronic disease
• drug abuse
• Arrhythmias which make adequate echocardiography unfeasible (such as atrial fibrillation or bundle-branch blocks)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern: lead
• Federal Office of Sports, Switzerland: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Dept. of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital Bern

Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland

Location

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITHOUT DNA

serum, plasma

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Infarction; Ventricular Remodeling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Infarction; Ischemia; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Necrosis; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical

Study Officials

• Michael Ith, PhD, PhD/MD

  Dept. of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital Bern

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Christoph Stettler, MD

  Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Bern

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2011
• First Posted: February 28, 2011
• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2012
• Study Completion: July 1, 2012
• Last Updated: May 15, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-05

Locations

CH (1)