New Research Study For Masters Athletes - Screening And Cardiovascular Risk Assessment In Masters Athletes
Many people will know the name Dr. Jack Taunton, who is an eminent sport medicine physician in BC, co-founder of SportMedBC, Chief Medical Officer for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics along with a number of other accolades and experiences, including working with many national teams.
Dr. Tauton has recently co-founded a new organization called “Sport Cardiology BC” with cardiologist Dr. Saul Isserow. Their mandate is to prevent sudden death in young and Masters athletes.
They have recently received “UBC Ethics Approval for Screening 2000 Masters - a first in Canada to reduce and prevent sudden death and cardiac arrests in Canada”.
To that end, they are now recruiting “Masters” athletes aged 35 years and over for this important study. This is for both recreational and performance athletes over 35 years. SportMedBC is looking for candidates who might be appropriate to include in this study.
The Sport Cardiology group will be travelling around the province to conduct testing, but hope for a critical mass of about 75 candidates in each test area. The groups of athletes being tested will come from a variety of sports, including golf.
Cardiovascular Screening and Risk Assessment in the Masters Athlete:
Purpose: We will evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (i.e. coronary artery disease, valvular disease) and risk factors (i.e. hypertension, dyslipidemia) and the best screening method for detecting these in Canadian masters athletes (recreational and high performance) in order to prevent adverse cardiac events and sudden cardiac death in sport.
We will also determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the masters athlete and its association with the intensity of sport and volume of lifetime physical activity. This is paramount to create our own database in British Columbia Masters Athletes in order to gain a better understanding for appropriate and safe participation in sport.
To sign up click HERE. Please choose the service July 23 - Masters Athlete Screening (Fortius) and then your preferred time.
Here are a couple of links featuring the study: You tube, Richmond Review, news 1130, Global News
Brief Information about the study: You are eligible to participate if you are 35 years of age or older and are physically active or participate in sports (recreationally or competitively) at least 3 times per week.
The initial screen includes a questionnaire, a resting 12-lead ECG and a cardiovascular physical examination (heart sounds). This will take 20 minutes of your time.
Prior to the initial screen you will be required to complete a lipid blood profile. If you have not completed a recent blood lipid profile (within one year of the screen), please consult with your physician to acquire a laboratory requisition (i.e. lipid profile and fasting blood sugar) and complete prior to your screening session. If this is not possible or not complete on the day of screening you may acquire a requisition from the research team.
If the initial screen is positive you will be contacted by the research team to undergo an exercise stress test and/or further diagnostic testing and will be conducted at the University of British Columbia Hospital, or one of its satellite locations.
Each subsequent year (for 5 years) you will be asked to complete a follow up questionnaire, similar to the initial heart health questionnaire, redo your blood lipid profile, and have the resting ECG re-administered (at UBC Hospital, Fortius Health and Sport, or your training facility).
Potential benefits from participating in this study include diagnosis of an underlying cardiovascular disease that can cause significant harm.
Participants will receive a cardiovascular risk profile of their results.
Participant Information and Consent Form (participant).pdf
Screening in Masters Athletes Letter of invitation - Golf BC.pdf
For more information please contact:
Barb Morrison (MSc Candidate, BHK, ACSM - CES)
Research and Project Coordinator, Sports Cardiology BC Clinic
Cell: 604-719-2825
Fax: 604-822-7625
Work: 604-822-1751
bmorrison@sportscardiologybc.org
www.sportscardiologybc.org