Individuals diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are often anxious about taking part in physical activity, fearing that they may experience a cardiac event brought on by an increase in the strain on the heart. Despite this activity after diagnosis with CVD is often recommended in order to strengthen the cardiac muscle and efficiency and health of the cardiovascular system as a whole. But what are the facts relating to sudden cardiovascular death and activity? If likelihood of cardiac event is increased which activities are the safest to take part in?

In a statement issued by the American Heart Association it was concluded that the risk of cardiac event was reduced in more regularly active individuals and sudden death is certainly more prudent in habitually less active populations. With that being said the risk of sudden death caused by a cardiac event is likely increased by vigorous activity (Thompson et al, 2007). Putting these observations into context it is certainly beneficial to cardiovascular health in those diagnosed with CVD to participate in regular activity, however it may be advised to avoid particularly vigorous activity as this is likely to increase the risk of cardiac event, the extent to which is yet to be accurately quantified.

Another more recent study which looked at prevalence of cardiovascular event in different sports presented some interesting findings. Of the most popular sports cardiac events were significantly less when playing tennis than in cycling, jogging or soccer (Deo and Albert, 2012). Table tennis, bodybuilding, alpine skiing and diving also showed particularly low prevalence. The findings of this data can be interpreted in different ways. It is unclear as to what truly causes the increased prevalence of cardiac events and sudden death in cycling and jogging. I would hypothesise that individuals competing in these sports are most likely to engage at a higher intensity due to a greater emphasis on physical exertion as opposed to technical ability.

When analysing the current literature my observations are as follows. Regular physical activity is certainly beneficial to those diagnosed or undiagnosed with CVD. Whilst modality of activity may display differing prevalence of cardiac events and sudden death, I believe that intensity of the activity is of more importance. It may be preferential to avoid particularly high intensity activity choosing instead to engage in different modalities at light to moderate intensity.

Jack Barton (Researcher, Rescon Ltd)

References
Deo, R., & Albert, C. M. (2012). Epidemiology and genetics of sudden cardiac death. Circulation, 125(4), 620-637.

Thompson, P. D., Franklin, B. A., Balady, G. J., Blair, S. N., Corrado, D. et al (2007). Exercise and acute cardiovascular events placing the risks into perspective: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism and the Council on Clinical Cardiology. Circulation, 115(17), 2358-2368.

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