Football as the champion of cardiovascular prevention: results of the randomized and interventional MY-3F study (Fit & Fun with Football after myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease).

Abstract

Aims: The MY-3F [Fit & Fun with Football after myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary artery disease (CAD)] study was the first to investigate whether a structured and health-adapted football training programme can improve fitness and risk factors in patients with CAD and whether it is safe. The primary objective of this study was to improve fitness in maximum oxygen uptake in spiroergometry (VO2peak), blood pressure, weight, and safety.

Methods and results: The MY-3F study is a prospective randomized interventional study with 1-year follow-up in patients with MI or CAD. A football group (FG, n = 89) completed a structured 'health' football training (1 h/week, 75 min) led by licensed football coaches. The results were compared with a control group (CG, n = 88). VO2peak in the FG significantly increased from 18.0 to 19.7 mL/min/kg (P < 0.001), and VO2peak in the CG significantly decreased from 19.5 to 18.3 mL/min/kg (P = 0.046). In the FG, running performance per participant per training improved from 1.8 km at admission to 2.4 km at the end of study (P < 0.001). In the FG, blood pressure decreased from 132/81 to 125/76 mmHg (P < 0.001). In the CG, it changed slightly from 137/82 to 136/82 mmHg (ns). In addition, a significantly more antihypertensives were given in CG, but not in FB. In the FG, weight decreased from 92.3 to 90.4 kg (P = 0.003). In the CG, it increased slightly from 90.7 to 91 kg (P = 0.6 ns). Depressive symptoms showed a significant improvement in the FG (P = 0.034), but no changes were observed in the CG. There was no significant change in LDL cholesterol in both groups, but significantly more lipid-lowering therapy was administered in the CG (P = 0.049).

Conclusion: In My-3F, the preventive benefit on CVRF (cardiovascular risk factors) and fitness of football training in patients after MI or CAD was clearly demonstrated for the first time. The concept proved to be safe and cost-effective and could open the doors of football clubs to evidence-based cardiological prevention.