DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i06.060

Pages: 2371-2376

Elevated serum cardiac troponin (cTn) levels are not restricted to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but has also been frequently observed following exercise in healthy individuals. This study aims to measure and compare the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels in young healthy athletes and untrained individuals following a maximal treadmill exercise test. The study population included 100 regularly well trained athletes (age 18-34 years) , from the academy of the Sports Authority of India, Manipur and 100 age-matched untrained healthy individuals, from among the staffs and medical students of our institution, who did not participate in any kind of regular sport activities. The serum levels of cTnI were measured before and within 30 minutes after performing a maximal treadmill exercise (Bruce protocol) in the department of Physiology RIMS, Imphal. Before exercise, all individuals had undetectable cTnI levels. After exercise, cTnI was raised in 48% (n=48) of the trained athletes and only 18% (n=18) of the untrained individuals. The mean post-exercise cTnI level was significantly higher in athletes (0.942±0.42ng/ml; range 0.500-1.800ng/ml) compared to untrained individuals (0.571±0.19ng/ml; range 0.500-1.000ng/ml) (p=0.001). 5(10.42%) athletes had cTnI levels above the myocardial infarction cut-off level (≥1.5ng/ml). The findings suggest that a single bout of a maximal treadmill exercise can cause release of cTnI into the bloodstream of a healthy group of young adults including trained athletes as well as untrained individuals. Athletes ran for a longer time on the treadmill and thus had to face higher exercise intensity (increased speed and gradient). This may be the reason why athletes had a higher incidence of cTnI elevation and a higher cTnI level.