Premature Cardiovascular Misdiagnosis of Senior Endurance-Trained Athletes

Abstract

A mature Caucasian patient, an endurance-trained triathlete (age group), had a routine ECG. The patient was immediately referred to Emergency based on supposed ECG abnormalities indicating a heart attack. This diagnosis was quickly dismissed based on no symptoms, heart rate of 50 BPM, athletic status, excellent health, and no prior cardiovascular problems. The patient had a history of severe white coat hypertension and underwent a further stress test and echocardiogram. The stress test showed exaggerated systolic blood pressures (over 225 mmHg) and high in-clinic basal blood pressures (160/90 mmHg), and the patient was diagnosed as hypertensive with exercise blood pressure close to stroke territory. He was told to stop racing, reduce training, and was prescribed antihypertensive drugs (which he did not take). Subsequent at-home 24 h (values close to 120/80 mmHg) and stress blood pressure measurements reversed that decision when considered in combination with an excellent echocardiogram result. The literature clearly describes endurance-trained athletes with systolic pressures over 225 mmHg Hg as being conditioned with no pathological aspects. Endurance-trained athletes should be examined as special cases in the field of cardiovascular medicine as trained physiological responses often present as cardiac abnormalities, and misdiagnosis can inappropriately change the athlete’s life.