The Athlete's Paradox: Unraveling Coronary Artery Calcification and Cardiovascular Risk

Author(s): Ali Dakik, Moied Al Sakan, Rawad Lakkis, Hadi Itani, Abdallah Rebeiz.

Coronary artery calcifications (CAC) are well-known markers of asymptomatic atherosclerosis and reflect an increased cardiovascular event risk. Large registries and observational studies have demonstrated that endurance athletes carry higher CAC scores than their sedentary and inactive counterparts, raising important questions about the underlying mechanisms, clinical significance, and management strategies. Although regular physical activity is linked to improved cardiovascular health, the presence of high CAC among athletes of high-intensity physical exercise led to further questions regarding this paradoxical phenomenon and its associated implications. This article provides a review of the available evidence and literature of CAC in endurance athletes and its underlying mechanisms. We also provide insights into the types of plaques associated with high-intensity exercise and stratify their risks with cardiovascular disease. Lastly, we determine gaps in the available evidence and present future prospects to determine the long-term cardiovascular implications and assist with management of this subset of population.