This cross-sectional analysis of the Master@Heart study evaluated objective wearable-derived training load (TL) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in middle-aged and older adults. The cohort included 222 men: 77 lifelong athletes, 98 late-onset athletes, and 47 controls. TL was measured over 12 consecutive months using wearable metrics, including objective training duration and heart-rate–weighted intensity (eTRIMP), and was compared with self-reported TL. Coronary CT angiography quantified plaque presence and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores. Participants were stratified into TL quartiles, and associations with CAD were assessed via unadjusted chi-square tests and logistic regression, with adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors and years of endurance exercise; continuous TL models used smoothing splines. Key findings: higher objective TL, particularly when combining long duration with high-intensity TL (eTRIMP in the top quartile), was associated with greater odds of subclinical CAD, including ≥1 plaque (adjusted OR ≈5.85), CAC >0 (adjusted OR ≈5.03), and CAC >100 (adjusted OR ≈3.50) versus the lowest TL quartile. Objective TL measures showed persistent associations; sequence of intensity alone without high duration did not show clear associations.
Circulation, Ahead of Print. Background: Middle-aged and older endurance athletes have increased prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) compared to healthy controls, despite similarly low cardiovascular risk. Prior studies relied on self-reported data to quantify training load (TL), which poorly correlates with objective wearable-derived TL and may bias outcomes. The impact of objective TL on CAD risk remains unknown.Methods: In this observational, cross-sectional analysis of the Master@Heart study, 222 males (median age 54 [49–59] years) were included: 77 lifelong athletes, 98 late-onset athletes, and 47 controls. TL was assessed using objective wearable-derived training duration and intensity (12 consecutive months), as well as self-reported training measures. CCTA-derived CAD prevalence was compared across TL quartiles (Q) using a global unadjusted chi-square test and logistic regression, adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and years of endurance exercise, to estimate odds ratios (ORs) between Q4 and Q1. Additionally, adjusted logistic regression models were fitted with continuous TL, using smoothing splines to capture potential non-linear associations.Results: Across quartiles of objective eTRIMP (training duration x heart rate-weighted intensity), unadjusted global differences were observed for ≥1 plaque (p 0 (p=0.002), and CAC>100 (p=0.012). Q4 participants had significantly higher adjusted odds of ≥1 plaque (OR 5.85, 95% CI 2.33–14.71), CAC>0 (OR 5.03, 95% CI 2.04–12.35), and CAC>100 (OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.22–10.00) versus Q1. Similar associations were found for objective training duration, while no clear associations were observed for relative time spent in high-intensity zones. In continuous analyses, eTRIMP and objective training duration showed significant positive associations with ≥1 plaque and CAC>100 (p 100 (p 0.05).Conclusions: High training duration(hours/week), particularly when combined with cumulative high-intensity TL(eTRIMP), was independently associated with increased prevalence of subclinical CAD in middle-aged and older athletes and physically active controls. Exercise intensity alone, in the absence of high duration, was not clearly linked to CAD. These findings underscore the potential of objectively measured TL for understanding associations with subclinical CAD in endurance athletes.