Cardiovascular Consequences in Intense and Extended Physical Exercise

Background and rationale: While regular and moderate physical activity is strongly recommended in reducing cardiovascular risk, the scientific community questions the potentially harmful effects of prolonged and intense physical activity. In the short term, functional ultrasonographic changes (systolic and diastolic) and disturbances of biomarkers such as troponin are reported in participants in long-term endurance trials, assuming myocardial remodeling and transient tissue damage leading to suffering or "heart fatigue". These constraints could, to the extreme, favor the development of arrhythmogenic foci at the atrial and ventricular stages, and at least, be responsible for a sudden death of the athlete. Adaptations of the athlete's heart have mainly been studied in the left ventricle but more and more studies are studying the right ventricle (RV). These alterations are nevertheless poorly characterized and the consequences including the risk of ventricular rhythm disorder have not been studied. Primary and Secondary Objectives: The primary objective is to test the existence of a relationship between RV functional abnormalities induced by intense and prolonged exercise, and the occurrence of ventricular ectopic beats (VEB) from RV. The secondary objectives are to characterize the respiratory impairment of this type of course and to study its relation with the functional anomalies of the RV and the occurrence of VEB. Methodology: This is a prospective study including male triathletes participating in the long-distance triathlon of Embrun in August 2019 (3.8 km of swimming, 188 km of cycling and 42.2 km of running), aged between 20 to 54 years years old. The criteria for non-inclusion are subjects with a history of heart disease or rhythm disorder or who have one or more cardiovascular risk factors, taking cardiovascular treatment or using doping products. The primary endpoint is the degree of correlation between course induced right ventricular functional abnormalities (by the use of 2d-strain ultrasound imaging) and the number of VEB from RV during or up to 72 hours after the race. Procedure: The study will take place during the Embrun triathlon in August 2019. There will be 2 evaluations: one before the race and one 30 minutes after the race, where will be carried out a self-questionnaire, a clinical examination, EKG, echocardiography and spirometry. An EKG holter in the form of a patch, adapted to sport and submersible practice, will be put in place 24 to 48 hours before the race and left until 72 hours after the race. Outcomes / perspectives: Characterizing the effects of a long-distance triathlon on cardiac contractile function and evaluating the athlete's rhythmic risk would make it possible to better understand these pathophysiological consequences and ultimately better detect athletes at risk of sudden death.