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RecruitingACTRN12618000716268

The Prospective Athlete Heart Study- elucidating genetic determinants of cardiac remodelling using endurance exercise as an environmental stress.

Sponsor

St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research

Enrollment

480 participants

Start Date

May 23, 2016

Study Type

Observational

Conditions

Heart FailureGeneticsCardiac RemodellingAthlete's HeartCardiac arrythmia's

Summary

The heart can be stimulated to change its size and shape. The heart changing size and shape is a normal adaptation; however, in certain cases this adaptation can become harmful. Change in heart structure predicts heart events (eg. congestive heart failure, abnormal heart beats). Heart size and shape varies considerably between people; it is currently unknown what accounts for most of this variability. Previous studies suggest a genetic contribution; however, no studies have yet identified the specific changes in a person’s genetic makeup which explain why one person has a bigger heart than another. This study aims to identify rare variants in specific genes that are related to abnormal changes in heart structure. This study will do so by tracking changes in heart structure related to endurance exercise training as well as normal aging. Endurance athletes with the greatest change in heart structure will have select genes compared to endurance athletes with the least change in heart structure after 2 years of training. Additionally these gene profiles will be compared to non-endurance athletes who have the greatest and least change in heart structure over a 2-year period. In this way investigators can identify which gene variants are related to highly adaptive versus less adaptive hearts. Identifying gene variants related to heart size may help identify individuals at risk of abnormalities in which the heart enlarges too much. Identifying at-risk individuals allows doctors to identify people who may benefit from advice or treatments that may prevent problems from developing.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 16 YearssMax Age: 23 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

The heart adapts in remarkable ways to years of intense exercise training — it grows larger, pumps more efficiently, and remodels its structure. But why some athletes' hearts adapt much more dramatically than others remains a mystery. Genetics is thought to play a major role, but the specific genes involved have not yet been identified. The Prospective Athlete Heart Study is tracking young endurance athletes and non-athletes over two years to see how their hearts change, and then comparing the genetics of those with the biggest and smallest adaptations. Heart structure will be measured using the most advanced cardiac imaging available, including MRI. Identifying genetic variants linked to dramatic heart remodelling could eventually help doctors identify athletes — or non-athletes — whose hearts might remodel in unhealthy ways, allowing early intervention. You may be eligible if you are aged 16 to 23 years and are either a serious endurance athlete (competing and training intensively, planning to continue for at least five more years) or a non-athlete (less than two hours of endurance activity per week, not enrolled in a fitness program). People with known cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, smoking history, or conditions preventing MRI scans are not eligible. This is a two-year commitment involving heart scans and health assessments.

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Interventions

A prospective comparison of endurance athletes and non-athletes which will assess the primary hypothesis that rare variants in 24 genes associated with abnormalities of cardiac structure will be more

A prospective comparison of endurance athletes and non-athletes which will assess the primary hypothesis that rare variants in 24 genes associated with abnormalities of cardiac structure will be more prevalent in those athletes with the greatest cardiac remodelling after 2 years of intense endurance exercise training. All subjects will undergo detailed assessment of cardiac structure and exercise capacity at baseline, after two years, 5 years and every 5 years after that for 25 years total. Testing will include, anthropometry measures (height, weight, BP), echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, 24h holter monitoring, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging with exercise, VO2 max test, 12 month exercise diary, blood samples, Dexa scan. Selection for genotyping after 2 years.

Locations(4)

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute - Melbourne

SA,VIC, Australia

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) - Adelaide

SA,VIC, Australia

St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) Ltd - Fitzroy

SA,VIC, Australia

Antwerp, Brabant, Belgium

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ACTRN12618000716268

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