[From bench to bicycle. Risk assessment in connection with sports activities and exercise programs in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases].

BACKGROUND: Due to encouraging results of studies investigating the effects of physical activity and training on cardiovascular diseases and due to the integration of preventive strategies into disease management programs by public health organizations, it is expected that a larger population, including cardiovascular patients, will increasingly participate in physical activity, fitness programs, and sports. However, a reduction in cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality by regular physical activity is accompanied by an increased mortality during exertion, as yet, there is no satisfactory definition of risk for all cardiovascular diseases and patient groups. RISK EVALUATION: A cost-effective preparticipation screening has to consider both the low incidence of events resulting from different diseases which requires subtle diagnostics and the intention of granting the larger population simple access to exercise programs and sports. There is a substantial difference in the risk profile for fatal events in athletes and young fitness program participants on the one hand and older (> 35 years) exercising people with a higher incidence of common cardiovascular diseases on the other. Additionally, a potential exercise-induced progression of chronic heart diseases should be excluded. New imaging techniques, laboratory markers, and genetic indicators will hopefully improve the quality of risk assessment.

CONCLUSION: Establishing standards for diagnostics and risk assessment as well as different types of exercise and training programs, all of which need to be transformed into national guidelines, could help to reduce risks without limiting access to physical exercise and therapy. However, an element of risk will remain if rational cost-effectiveness ratios are to be applied.