[Coronary risk factors in high-rank athletes]

To report the prevalence of coronary risk factors in elite athletes.

The prevalence of coronary risk factors was determined in 88 athletes (62 men and 26 women) who participate representing Brazil, in the Olympic Games at Seul in 1988, in the Project SEUL/COB/AMIL. The risk factors analyzed were: family history of coronary heart disease, hypercholesterolemia (total-cholesterol and subfractions), hypertension, glucose intolerance, smoking and left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH). We compared the mean values of total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol between men and women with unpaired Student's t Test. The distribution of risk factors prevalence by sex was analysed with the chi-square test.

Family history of coronary heart disease was detected in 11 (12.5%) athletes. Smoking was found in 12 (13.6%) athletes. There was no one with hypertension or glucose intolerance. LVH was diagnosed with the echocardiogram, in 36 athletes (40.9%). Total-cholesterol mean was 172 +/- 36 mg/dl in men and 187 +/- 34 mg/dl in women. HDL-cholesterol mean was 46 +/- 10 mg/dl in men and 60 +/- 13 mg/dl in women. Total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol mean was 4.02 +/- 1.39 mg/dl in men and 3.21 +/- 0.74 mg/dl in women. The difference between total-cholesterol in mean and women was not statistically significant (p less than 0.05). HDL-cholesterol and total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol means were statistically different (p less than 0.05). Prevalence distribution of the number of risk factors by sex were not statistically different (p less than 0.05).

The results shows how important is to look for coronary risk factors in elite athletes.