VENTOUX
Research type
Research Study
Full title
VENTricular arrhythmia and cardiac fibrOsis in endUrance eXperienced athletes (VENTOUX)
IRAS ID
300629
Contact name
Wasim Javed
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Recent research suggests excessive exercise may damage the heart. The media has negatively reported these studies focusing on the risk of heart disease from exercise. This is concerning as obesity and sedentary lifestyles are likely to be worsened by this negative perception of exercise. Heart muscle scarring is a possible cause for increased risk in those who excessively exercise. This can be identified by a heart scan (cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) but it is not known whether this scarring causes dangerous heart rhythms.
This study, which will be funded by the British Heart Foundation, aims to determine whether heart scarring due to lifelong, frequent exercise causes dangerous heart rhythms which are potentially fatal.
106 males aged over 50 years old who undertake at least 10 hours of weekly exercise for at least 15 years will be recruited from local sports clubs to look for heart scarring using a cardiac MRI scan. It is necessary to recruit older, male veteran athletes as they have the highest lifetime exposure to exercise and most heart scarring. A small heart monitor will be implanted under their chest wall skin and record every heartbeat for two years. This is a simple, routine procedure which does not require recipients to be put to sleep. The device will automatically detect dangerous heart rhythms, particularly during and after exercise (when traditional ECG monitors don't work). All procedures will be performed at the Advance Imaging Centre, Leeds General Infirmary on a single half day to minimise participant inconvenience.
We will establish whether MRI findings can predict those who will suffer potentially dangerous heart rhythms by analysing heart rhythm readings for two years. It will be the first study to answer this important question to improve athlete screening of cardiovascular disease and provide valuable public information on the effects of excessive exercise.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0231
Date of REC Opinion
25 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion