Atrial remodelling associated with sporting discipline, sex and duration in elite sports: a cross-sectional echocardiographic study among Danish elite athletes.

Background: Elite endurance training is characterised by a high-volume load of the heart and has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) in middle-aged men. We compared left atrial (LA) remodelling among elite athletes engaged in sports, categorised as having low, intermediate, and high cardiac demands.

Methods: This cross-sectional echocardiographic study of healthy elite athletes evaluated LA size and function measured as LA maximum volume (maxLAVi) and contraction strain.

Comparison of two electronic dynamometers for measuring handgrip strength.

Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a strong predictor and easily applicable assessment, indicating a person's physical condition and health. However, many dynamometers are available; therefore, it is essential to ensure that the results of HGS testing using different dynamometers can be used interchangeably. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-instrument agreement and criterion validity of the Baseline BIMS Digital Grip Dynamometer in comparison with the Jamar electronic dynamometer (Jamar+).

Hemodynamic Response in Ascending Aorta Surgery Patients during Moderate Intensity Resistance Training.

Background: In patients undergoing ascending aortic surgery (AAS), postsurgical physical exercise with a safe and effective exercise prescription is recommended. Resistance training is associated with blood pressure (BP) elevations that may increase the risk of new aortic dissection or rupture. However, the acute hemodynamic response to resistance training for this patient group is unknown.

Validation of an accelerometer system for measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior in healthy children and adolescents.

Unlabelled: The study aims to assess the concurrent validity of the SENS motion accelerometer system for device-based measurement of physical activity and sedentary behavior in healthy children and adolescents. Thirty-six healthy children and adolescents (mean ± standard deviation (SD) age, 10.2 ± 2.

Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Inhaled Corticosteroid Dose in Asthma Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. However, ICS has side effects, and dose reduction is recommended when possible. Physical exercise improves asthma control, but it is unknown whether it reduces the reliance on ICS.

Physical Function and Association with Cognitive Function in Patients in a Post-COVID-19 Clinic-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Patients with long-term health sequelae of COVID-19 (post-COVID-19 condition) experience both physical and cognitive manifestations. However, there is still uncertainty about the prevalence of physical impairment in these patients and whether there is a link between physical and cognitive function. The aim was to assess the prevalence of physical impairment and investigate the association with cognition in patients assessed in a post-COVID-19 clinic.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy reduces psychological distress in younger patients with cardiac disease: a randomized trial.

Aims: To test whether usual outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) supplemented by a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention may reduce anxiety and depression compared with usual CR.

Methods And Results: In this multicentre randomized controlled trial, 147 cardiac patients (67% men, mean age 54 years, 92% with coronary artery disease) with psychological distress defined as a hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) anxiety or depression score ≥8 were randomized to five sessions of group CBT plus usual CR (intervention, n = 74) or CR alone (control, n = 73). Patients with severe distress or a psychiatric diagnosis were excluded.

The COVID-19 in athletes (COVA) study: a national study on cardio-pulmonary involvement of SARS-CoV-2 infection among elite athletes.

Background: COVID-19 can cause cardiopulmonary involvement. Physical activity and cardiac complications can worsen prognosis, while pulmonary complications can reduce performance.

Aims: To determine the prevalence and clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 cardiopulmonary involvement in elite athletes.

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Physical function (PF) is a strong predictor for length of stay, complications, readmission, and mortality among patients across different diagnoses. Still, systematic assessment of PF in hospitalised patients is not common, and if, only among the oldest. In this review, we suggest implementation of an easily applicable and validated test battery using the Cumulated Ambulation Score for basic mobility, Handgrip strength for general muscle strength, and the 30s Chair Stand Test for combined function and muscle strength for early identification and treatment of reduced PF in adult patients across diagnoses.

The motivation for physical activity is a predictor of VO2peak and is a useful parameter when determining the need for cardiac rehabilitation in an elderly cardiac population.

Background: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an essential contributor to a successful recovery for elderly cardiac patients. The motivation for physical activity is a psychological parameter seldom described in secondary prevention, and it is plausible that motivation contributes to the differential effect of CR.

Purpose: To investigate if motivation, measured using the behavioural regulation in an exercise questionnaire (BREQ-2), predicts VO2peak in elderly cardiac patients before and after CR.

Physical activity, physical capacity and sedentary behavior among asthma patients.

: Although exercise and daily physical activity (PA) have long been known to benefit patients with chronic disorders, knowledge is limited regarding asthma. : In a Danish setting, our aim was to measure physical activity, sedentary behavior, and physical capacity among patients with asthma. We hypothesized that people with severe asthma would be less active and more sedentary than their mild-moderate counterparts.

High-intensity interval training and health-related quality of life in de novo heart transplant recipients - results from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Studies on the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIT) compared with moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after heart transplantation (HTx) is scarce. No available studies among de novo HTx recipients exists. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HIT vs.

Evaluation of a technology assisted physical activity intervention among hospitalised patients: A randomised study.

Background: Physical inactivity is common during hospitalisation and poses a threat to functional capacity and independency in the elderly.

Aim: We aimed to assess the effect of physical activity measurements with visual feedback about time spent in various activities on the average daily time spent out of bed during hospitalisation.

Methods: We recorded physical activity during hospitalisation by accelerometers and compared the effect of the visual feedback (intervention) with no feedback (control) on time spent out of bed.

Depression, Socioeconomic Factors, and Ethnicity as Predictors of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Before and After Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Purpose: To determine whether cardiac patients with psychosocial or socioeconomic problems have lower peak oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)O2peak) and whether these factors modify the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, or heart failure referred for CR.

Clinical features and determinants of VO in heart transplant recipients.

Aim: To study exercise capacity and determinants of early peak oxygen consumption (VO) in a cohort of heart transplant (HTx) recipients.

Methods: To determine possible central (chronotropic responses, cardiopulmonary and hemodynamic function) and peripheral factors (muscular exercise capacity and body composition) predictive of VO, a number of different measurements and tests were performed, as follows: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed mean 11 wk after surgery in 81 HTx recipients > 18 years and was measured with breath by breath gas exchange on a treadmill or bicycle ergometer. Metabolic/respiratory measures include VO and VE/VCO slope.

Change in Fitness and the Relation to Change in Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms After Aerobic Exercise in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Physical activity has the potential to improve physical function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may contribute to modify disease processes and cognitive function.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate 1) the effect of moderate-high-intensity aerobic exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness, i.e.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in heart transplant recipients.

Background: Heart transplantation is considered to be the gold standard treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart disease when medical therapy has been unable to halt progression of the underlying pathology. Evidence suggests that aerobic exercise training may be effective in reversing the pathophysiological consequences associated with cardiac denervation and prevent immunosuppression-induced adverse effects in heart transplant recipients.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness and safety of exercise-based rehabilitation on the mortality, hospital admissions, adverse events, exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, return to work and costs for people after heart transplantation.

Skin autofluorescence is associated with arterial stiffness and insulin level in endurance runners and healthy controls - Effects of aging and endurance exercise.

Background: Life-long regular endurance exercise yields positive effects on cardiovascular and metabolic function, disease and mortality rate. Glycation may be a major mechanism behind age-related diseases. However, it remains unknown if skin autofluorescence (SAF), which reflects glycation, is related to arterial and metabolic function in life-long endurance runners and sedentary controls.

Design and rationale of the HITTS randomized controlled trial: Effect of High-intensity Interval Training in de novo Heart Transplant Recipients in Scandinavia.

There is no consensus on how, when, and at what intensity exercise should be performed and organized after heart transplantation (HTx). Most rehabilitation programs are conducted in HTx centers, which might be impractical and costly. We have recently shown that high-intensity interval training (HIT) is safe, well tolerated, and efficacious in maintenance HTx recipients, but there are no studies among de novo patients, and whether HIT is feasible and superior to moderate training in HTx recipients is unclear.

Age-related decline in mitral peak diastolic velocities is unaffected in well-trained runners.

Objectives: We examined whether diastolic left ventricular function in young and senior lifelong endurance runners was significantly different from that in sedentary age-matched controls, and whether lifelong endurance running appears to modify the age-related decline in diastolic left ventricular function.

Design: The study comprised 17 senior athletes (age: 59-75 years, running distance: 30-70 km/week), 10 young athletes (age: 20-36 years, matched for running distance), and 11 senior and 12 young weight-matched sedentary controls. Peak early (E) and late (A) mitral inflow and early (e') and late (a') diastolic and systolic (s') annular longitudinal tissue Doppler velocities were measured by echocardiography during four stages (rest, supine bike exercise at 30% and 60% of maximal workload, and recovery).

Effect of moderate- versus high-intensity exercise on vascular function, biomarkers and quality of life in heart transplant recipients: A randomized, crossover trial.

Background: Growing evidence in long-term treatment of heart transplant (HTx) recipients indicates effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on several parameters, including oxygen uptake, vascular function and psychological distress. In this study we compare the effect of HIIT vs continued moderate training (CON) on vascular function, biomarkers and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in HTx recipients.

Methods: A randomized, controlled crossover trial of stable HTx recipients >12 months after transplantation was done on patients with 12 weeks of HIIT or 12 weeks of CON, followed by a 5-month washout and crossover.

Interval training does not modulate diastolic function in heart transplant recipients.

Objectives: This study investigates the effect of aerobic interval training on diastolic function at rest and during exercise in stable heart transplant (HTx) recipients.

Design: Twenty-three stable HTx recipients (74% males, mean age 50 ± 14.9 years) were recruited to a training programme.