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Occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in winter tourists: data from a retrospective questionnaire

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Abstract

Background

Every year millions of tourists spend their vacation in Tyrol, Austria during the winter season. They often perform sports at high altitudes and at low temperatures, factors that might cause acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of first physical activity and the onset of AMI in winter tourists.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine III at the Medical University of Innsbruck with the diagnosis of an AMI between 2006 and 2010. We identified 172 patients as potential candidates for the questionnaire. We successfully contacted 110 patients (mean age: 60 ± 10 years). The location of visit, duration of stay, time of arrival, first sportive activity and onset of symptoms were assessed.

Results

During the first 2 days of physical activity , 56% of AMIs occurred. In tourists who suffered AMI during, or within 1 h after cessation of activity (52%), the mean time from the start of the activity to the onset of symptoms was 2.0 ± 1.7 h. 56% of patients performed less than 2.5 h of sport per week before their vacation and 70% had ≥2 cardiovascular risk factors. Although the mean planned vacation time was 8.3 ± 3.7 days, 39% of the patients suffered from AMI on the day of arrival or the day after.

Conclusion

The majority of AMIs in winter tourists happens within the first 2 days after arrival and within the first 2 days of physical activity.

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Abbreviations

AMI:

Acute myocardial infarction

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

CCS-class:

Canadian Cardiac Society-class

CK:

Creatine kinase

cTnT:

Cardiac troponin T

CVRF:

Cardiovascular risk factors

ESC:

European Society of Cardiology

LAD:

Left anterior descending

LCX:

Left circumflex artery

LVEF:

Left ventricular ejection fraction

(N)STEMI:

(Non) ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

NYHA-class:

New York Heart Association-class

(P-)PCI:

(Primary) percutaneous coronary intervention

RCA:

Right coronary artery

SCD:

Sudden cardiac death

SD:

Standard deviation

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None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine III, University Clinic of Internal Medicine III/Cardiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    G. Klug, S. Schenk, J. Dörler, A. Mayr, B. J. Haubner, H. Alber, O. Pachinger & B. Metzler

  2. Medizinische Klinik I, Klinikum Fulda, Fulda, Germany

    V. Schächinger

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  1. G. Klug
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  2. S. Schenk
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  3. J. Dörler
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  4. A. Mayr
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  5. B. J. Haubner
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  6. H. Alber
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  7. V. Schächinger
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  8. O. Pachinger
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  9. B. Metzler
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Correspondence to B. Metzler.

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Klug, G., Schenk, S., Dörler, J. et al. Occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in winter tourists: data from a retrospective questionnaire. Clin Res Cardiol 100, 669–674 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-011-0294-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-011-0294-3

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