Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Among Master Athletes in Latvia

Objectives. Master athletes are a growing population in Latvia and around the world. Compared to younger athletes, this group have more medical conditions which, untreated, could lead to sudden cardiac death or life-threatening clinical events. The aim of the study is to screen the master athletes population to identify modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (RF).
Materials and Methods. Prospective study (May 2022 to January 2022) enrolling master athletes in competition-level basketball. Questionnaires about CV RF, demographic data and anthropometric measurements were made. Data were collected, and descriptive analysis was made using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0.
Results. Altogether 54 participants: 83.3% (45) – male (M), 16.7% (9) – female (F); average age - 64 years (SD 9.3). Arterial hypertension (AH) for 33.3% (18) participants in anamnesis, during blood pressure (BP) measurements at rest elevated BP for 48.1% (26) of participants, of which 65% (17) had AH in anamneses. Diabetes anamnesis for 3.7% (2) participants. Current smokers – 13.2% (7); 53.8% (29) have smoked at some point. Dyslipidemia in anamneses – 22.2% (12), of which 41.7% (5) participants said using cholesterol-lowering drugs. Altogether cholesterol-lowering drugs were used by 17% (9). Normal Body Mass Index (BMI) – 31.5% (17); 16.7% – obese (obesity class 1 – 13% (7); class 2 – 1.9% (1); class 3 – 1.9% (1)); overweight – 51.9% (28). Normal waist size for 22.2% (12) (M 78–94 cm, F 64–80 cm) of athletes, 35.2% (19) overweight (male 94-102 cm, F 80-88cm), 42.2% (23) obese (M ≥ 102 cm, F ≥ 88 cm).
Conclusions. Master athletes are a group where multiple CV risk factors, most commonly obesity (42.2%), can be seen. It emphasizes the necessity for closer cardiovascular screening and RF modification for this group of patients.