Cardiovascular risk and androgenic anabolic steroids
- Authors: Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Grace, Fergal , Angell, Peter , Baker, Julien , George, Keith
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Cardiac Nursing Vol. 7, no. 6 (2013), p. 266-275
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Although several drugs are purported to improve exercise performance, androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are the most widespread. Furthermore, unlike other drugs, their use has expanded beyond competition, to non-competitive and recreational athletes. Correspondingly health professionals are more likely to come into contact with users of AAS than with users of other performance-enhancing drugs. While there are numerous reports outlining serious cardiovascular consequences to high-dose AAS abuse, this evidence is often limited by difficulties in gaining access to users due to the legal status of AAS. Additionally the co-abuse of other substances (as additional muscle mass enhancers, or to mitigate possible side effects) is a further confounding factor. This review examines the evidence for AAS having a negative effect on the cardiac and vascular tissue and the corresponding risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Possible mechanisms of action by which AAS bring about these changes are also discussed.
Confirming a beneficial effect of the six-minute walk test on exercise confidence in patients with heart failure
- Authors: Toukhsati, Samia , Mathews, Stephanie , Sheed, A. , Freijah, Isabella , Moncur, L. , Cropper, P , Ha, F. , Hare, David
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Vol. 19, no. 2 (2020), p.165-171
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Low confidence to exercise is a barrier to engaging in exercise in heart failure patients. Participating in low to moderate intensity exercise, such as the six-minute walk test, may increase exercise confidence. Aim: To compare the effects of a six-minute walk test with an educational control condition on exercise confidence in heart failure patients. Methods: This was a prospective, quasi-experimental design whereby consecutive adult patients attending an out-patient heart failure clinic completed the Exercise Confidence Scale prior to and following involvement in the six-minute walk test or an educational control condition. Results: Using a matched pairs, mixed model design (n=60; 87% male; Mage=58.87±13.16), we identified a significantly greater improvement in Total exercise confidence (F(1,54)=4.63, p=0.036, partial η2=0.079) and Running confidence (F(1,57)=4.21, p=0. 045, partial η2=0.069) following the six-minute walk test compared to the educational control condition. These benefits were also observed after adjustment for age, gender, functional class and depression. Conclusion: Heart failure patients who completed a six-minute walk test reported greater improvement in exercise confidence than those who read an educational booklet for 10 min. The findings suggest that the six-minute walk test may be used as a clinical tool to improve exercise confidence. Future research should test these results under randomized conditions and examine whether improvements in exercise confidence translate to greater engagement in exercise behavior. © The European Society of Cardiology 2019.