Aspirin to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes with High Coronary Artery Calcium Scores

• Published in: The American journal of medicine Vol. 132; no. 2; pp. 138 - 141
• Main Authors: Siegel, Arthur J., Noakes, Timothy D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Aspirin prophylaxis; Cardiac arrest; Coronary artery calcium scores; Marathons; Coronary artery calcium scores; Marathons; Aspirin prophylaxis; Cardiac arrest
• ISSN: 0002-9343; 1555-7162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.09.015

While proficient cardiac resuscitation has improved survival following cardiac arrest during road races in Japan, this accomplishment does not address coronary artery disease as the underlying cause of an increasing frequency of cardiac arrest in middle-aged men during marathons and ironman triathlons in the United States since the year 2000. Based on the high prevalence of subclinical coronary artery disease by cardiac computed tomography in endurance athletes with low conventional cardiac risk-factor profiles, we recommend coronary artery calcium scores as a more reliable and independent predictor of incident cardiac events, including death, as validated among adults aged 30-46 years. Scores of over 100 Agatston units indicate a 10-year cardiac risk of 7.5%, at which additional measures for primary prevention are recommended, including aspirin, as shown conclusively to reduce first myocardial infarctions in same-aged men in a prospective double-blind controlled trial. Targeted screening for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis with coronary artery calcium scores is prudent to guide appropriately dosed aspirin use to mitigate the increasing frequency of sports-related sudden cardiac death due to plaque rupture.