Vigorous exercise training is not associated with prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in elderly athletes

Aim. Physical activity, when vigorous, is not devoided of arrhythmic risk. Since the risk of developing arrhythmias increase as an otherwise healthy person ages, the question arises as to whether high intensity physical activity could be dangerous in the elderly person. The present study addressed the incidence of arrhythmias in elderly athletes in comparison to age-matched control subjects. Methods. We studied 49 male athletes engaged in various sport disciplines, mean age 62.3±2.3 and 24 sedentary or moderately physically active healthy males, mean age 62.9±1.7 years (Controls). All subjects underwent 2-D, M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic examination, resting ECG and exercise stress test followed by 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring. Results. No pathological findings were detected in both experimental groups at echocardiographic examination. Exercise performance was greater in athletes than controls (206.9±5.2 vs 156.3±12 watt, p