Coronary disease & ACSCross-sectional study
Relationship Between Exercise-Induced Cardiac Troponin Elevations and Occult Coronary Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Athletes
- Cross-sectional study
- matched for age, sex and sport type
Authors' conclusion
The prevalence and magnitude of coronary atherosclerosis did not differ between recreational athletes with high vs low postexercise cTn concentrations.
Study context
- Population
- Middle-aged recreational long-distance walkers, cyclists and runners (median age 56 years, 63% male)68 high vs 34 low responders had computed tomography (CT)
- Participants
- 1,011 walkers
- Exposure
- High vs low postexercise cardiac troponin (cTn) responders
- High cTn respondersn = 68
- Low respondersn = 34reference
- Outcome
- Prevalence and magnitude of coronary atherosclerosis on cardiac CT (CAD-RADS 2.0 score, CAC score)
Main finding
Coronary atherosclerosis
Odds ratio (adjusted)
1.55
95% CI 0.81–2.93
By group
High cTn responders
67.6%
CAD-RADS >0 · CAC score, median 9 AU [Q1-Q3: 0-111 AU]
Low responders
50.0%
CAD-RADS >0 · CAC score, median 2 AU [Q1-Q3: 0-145 AU]
High cTn responders vs Low responders
OR (adjusted) 1.55 (95% CI 0.81–2.93)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | High cTn responders | Low responders | OR (adjusted) (CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT-FFR ≤0.75 · interval printed as Q1-Q3 | 11.8% | 5.9% | 1.03 (0.67–1.60) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (adjusted) (log scale) |
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), hs-cTnI concentrations and CAD-RADS classifications
- Weak associations
- P < 0.05; R2: 4%-8%
Original publication
Relationship Between Exercise-Induced Cardiac Troponin Elevations and Occult Coronary Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Athletes. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 24 June 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.04.047
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it