The copeptin response after physical activity is not associated with cardiac biomarkers or asymptomatic coronary artery disease: The North Sea Race Endurance Exercise Study (NEEDED) 2013

Abstract

Background:Copeptin concentrations increase both during acute coronary syndrome and following physicalexercise. The relationship between copeptin increase following physical exercise and coronary artery disease(CAD) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to 1) describe the copeptin response following strenuous physicalexercise, and 2) investigate the determinants of exercise induced copeptin concentrations, particularly in rela-tion to cardiac biomarkers and CAD.Methods:Serum samples were collected from 97 recreational cyclists 24 h before, and immediately, 3 and 24 hafter a 91-km bike race. Three subjects were subsequently diagnosed with significant asymptomatic CAD. Deltacopeptin concentrations were correlated to patient characteristics and to biomarker concentrations.Results:Participants were 42.8 ± 9.6 years, and 76.3% were male. Copeptin concentrations increased tomaximal levels immediately after the race and were normalized in > 90% after 3 h. A total of 53% and 39%exceeded the 95th and 99th percentile of the assay (10 and 19 pmol/L) respectively. In multivariate models, racetime, serum sodium, creatinine and cortisol were significant predictors of copeptin levels. There was no cor-relation between changes in copeptin and changes in cardiac biomarkers (hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT and BNP). Copeptinconcentrations were normal in the subjects with asymptomatic CAD.Conclusions:The moderate, short-term, exercise induced copeptin increase observed in the present study was notrelated to hs-cTn or BNP levels. Copeptin was normal in three asymptomatic recreational athletes with significant CAD.