Dear Colleagues,

 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a public health priority and an important social burden throughout the world. Physical exercise has proven to be an effective and cost-effective strategy for the prevention of CVD. There is ample evidence that regular aerobic exercise training is associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although too little exercise is a major concern for much of the general population. However, less attention has been given to the growing number of individuals who participate in high-volume, high-intensity exercise training over prolonged periods, and accompanied extreme exercise events such as marathons, triathlons, and ultra-endurance races. The health effects of such exercise volumes beyond the ‘optimal dose’ are currently under debate. At the extreme end, a very high amount of physical exercise is associated with greater CVD risk. Participation in long-term, high-intensity endurance exercise is becoming more frequent and may pose a public health concern. High-intensity endurance exercise produces acutely elevated cardiac biomarkers related to cardiac damage, such as cardiac troponin I. In addition, the most active amateur endurance athletes have an increased risk for myocardial fibrosis, coronary calcification, and atrial fibrillation. These observations indicate that high volumes of regular endurance exercise training may hurt the heart: the so-called "Extreme Exercise Hypothesis". The Special Issue "Exercise-Induced Cardiac Injury: Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention" will collect high-quality original research papers and comprehensive reviews on recent evidence in relation to exercise and cardiovascular disease/damage. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to: 

● Myocardial fibrosis/remodeling 
● Atherothrombotic disease 
● Coronary atherosclerosis/coronary artery disease 
● Cardiomyopathies
● Arrhythmias
● Cardiovascular Imagining
● Genetics
● Mechanisms
● Biomarkers

 

Dr. Fabian Sanchis-Gomar and Prof. Carl J. Lavie

Guest Editors