Exercise, Sports Participation, and Quality of Life in Young Patients with Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease

Theodore J Millette; Randy K Ramcharitar; Oliver J Monfredi; Matthew J Thomas; Mark R Conaway; Peter N Dean

doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003570

Exercise, Sports Participation, and Quality of Life in Young Patients with Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2024 Oct 1. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003570. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Theodore J Millette¹, Randy K Ramcharitar², Oliver J Monfredi³, Matthew J Thomas¹, Mark R Conaway⁴, Peter N Dean¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
² Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
³ Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
⁴ Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

PMID: 39352231
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003570

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD)are often restricted from sports and certain types of exercise. This study was designed to investigate the effect of lifetime exercise exposure and competitive sports participation on quality of life (QOL) in patients aged 15-35 with syndromic [Marfan syndrome (MFS), Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS)] and non-syndromic heritable thoracic aortic disease (nsHTAD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study employed questionnaires to assess lifetime exercise exposure and utilized the PedsQL QOL Inventory. We developed an Exercise Exposure Score (EES) to quantify lifetime exercise exposure. Questionnaires were completed via telephone with complimentary medical record review.

Results: Forty patients were enrolled. Mean age was 26 years. The diagnosis was MFS in 83%. Despite 88% of patients being restricted by their provider, 65% reported competitive sports participation and 93% reported recreational exercise. Participants with an EES greater than the median had significantly better total QOL scores compared to those below the median (78 vs 65, p = 0.03). There were significant positive correlations between current frequency of exercise and psychosocial QOL (slope = 3.9, 95% CI: (1.2, 6.6), p = 0.005), physical QOL (slope = 8.1, 95% CI: (4.1, 12), p < 0.001), and total QOL score (slope = 6.0, 95% CI: (3.1, 9.0), p < 0.001). We found no difference in aortic size or need for surgical intervention between those above and below the median EES, or between those who did and did not participate in competitive sports.

Conclusions: Despite exercise restrictions, young HTAD patients are physically active. Increased lifetime exercise and current physical activity levels were associated with improved QOL in HTAD patients.