Status of recent study about aortic aneurysms in endurance athletes

Posted by pittsburghdad @pittsburghdad, May 8 9:40am

Hello. Male 57. In generally good health: competitive marathoner (ran Boston a couple of times) and rower for many years. Recently diagnosed with an enlarged ascending aorta (5.0 cm) as part of a precautionary calcium CT scan done as part of my annual physical. I saw some fairly recent research about a study being done at Mass General in Boston in JAMA (Association of Ascending Aortic Dilatation and Long-term Endurance Exercise Among Older Masters-Level Athletes) indicating a prevalence of ascending aortic dilation in competitive older athletes (i.e., 45% of Head of the Charles rowers who were screened had a similar condition). In the initial study, which was done in 2018, the authors indicated there would likely be a 5-year update. Would be curious to hear if anyone participated in that study or knows the status of the long-term study. Thanks for any information.

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Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | May 20 10:52am

Hi @pittsburghdad - Is this the study you are referencing, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2761954? This was published it 2020, so it may not be the exact study.

@pittsburghdad - how are you currently doing with your ascending aortic aneurysm? Do you have any planned course of action for management?

pittsburghdad | @pittsburghdad | May 20 12:17pm

Yes, that is the study I referenced. Study was done in 2018 and published 2 years later. Being treated in Pittsburgh and have a follow-up scan set for September will re-assess then.

tim1028 | @tim1028 | May 30 12:35am

I'm a lifelong exerciser (not a competitive athlete), age 75,and also was diagnosed with an enlarged ascending aorta (4.9) on a recent cardiac ultrasound. In addition, it showed an enlarged left atrium, but no other abnormalities. I've got a couple of other heart studies in the works, a 14-day heart monitor patch to check for electrical system abnormalities and an angiogram to check for coronary artery blockages.

pittsburghdad | @pittsburghdad | May 30 6:52am

In reply to @tim1028 "I'm a lifelong exerciser (not a competitive athlete), age 75,and also was diagnosed with an enlarged..." + (show)

Thanks for the feedback. Good luck to you.

jmx | @jmx | May 30 11:31am

Thanks Pittsburghdad, please keep posting, will be thinking of you as you progress through these tests. Were they ever able identify the cause of your aneurysm?
Best wishes.

pittsburghdad | @pittsburghdad | May 30 2:02pm

No. Genetic tests came back clean.

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