Overview

• The VENTOUX study tracked 106 male cyclists and triathletes aged 50 or older with extensive training histories using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and implanted ECG recorders over two years.
• CMR imaging identified left ventricular scarring in 47% of participants, revealing widespread myocardial fibrosis among veteran endurance athletes.
• Continuous ECG monitoring detected abnormal ventricular rhythms in 22% of the cohort during the follow-up period.
• Athletes with detected scarring faced more than a fourfold increase in the likelihood of arrhythmia episodes compared to those without fibrosis.
• Researchers are advocating targeted cardiac monitoring, athlete symptom education and expanded research to include women and diverse athletic populations.