Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
In Silico Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: May 27, 2022
Are soccer matches dangerous for patients with heart disease? The HeartAtaque trial - a prospective pilot study
José Luís Martins1, Tiago Adrega1, Luís Santos1
1Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal.
Insights
Watching soccer matches does not increase cardiovascular events (CVEs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), regardless of the match outcome. Heart rate increased, but CVE incidence remained stable, indicating soccer is safe for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Cardiology
- Psychocardiology
Background:
- Behavioral and emotional stress can trigger cardiovascular events (CVEs).
- The specific risk of CVEs for soccer fans with existing coronary artery disease (CAD) during matches is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of watching soccer matches on CVE incidence in patients with known CAD.
- To determine if match results influence CVE occurrence in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Prospective assessment of 82 male soccer fans with a history of acute coronary syndrome during 23 matches.
- Holter monitoring used on match days and control days.
- Primary endpoint: composite of death, stroke, reinfarction, angina, or sustained arrhythmia; secondary endpoints included arrhythmias and heart rate.
Main Results:
- Mean participant age was 61±10 years.
- Heart rate significantly increased on match days (p<0.001), independent of match outcome (p>0.97).
- No significant difference in CVE incidence (p>0.05) or non-sustained arrhythmias (p>0.05) was observed based on match results.
Conclusions:
- Match outcomes did not correlate with differing CVE incidence in patients with prior CAD.
- Watching soccer matches appears safe for individuals with a history of CAD, despite physiological stress responses.
Introduction:
Behavioral and emotional factors are triggers of cardiovascular events (CVEs). It is uncertain whether soccer fans, particularly individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD), are at increased risk for CVEs.
Objectives:
To assess the effect of watching soccer matches in patients with known CAD on the incidence of CVEs according to the match result.
Methods:
We prospectively assessed 82 male soccer fans with a history of acute coronary syndrome during 23 matches of the 2015/2016 season. Each individual was assessed by Holter monitoring on the day of their team's match and on the control day. The primary endpoint was the composite of death, stroke, reinfarction, angina or sustained arrhythmia. Secondary endpoints assessed were episodes of non-sustained supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmia and mean heart rate (HR).
Results:
Participants' mean age was 61±10 years. Compared with the control day, despite a significant increase in HR (p<0.001) that was independent of the result (p>0.97), the number of CVEs did not differ according to the result (p>0.05). Moreover, the number of non-sustained episodes of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmia did not differ when stratified according to the match result (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
The match result was not associated with a difference in incidence of CVEs in patients with a past history of CAD, with ischemic and arrhythmic substrate, who watched soccer matches on television.
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