Uso De Esteroides Androgênicos E Seus Efeitos Cardiovasculares Em Atletas Recreativos: Uma Revisão Narrativa / Use of Androgenic Steroids and Their Cardiovascular Effects in Recreational Athletes: A Narrative Review

INTRODUÇÃO: Os esteróides anabólicos androgênicos (EAA) são derivados sintéticos da testosterona geralmente utilizados por atletas recreativos com o objetivo de melhorar a aparência física, potência e desempenho esportivo em curto prazo. O presente estudo visa conhecer os efeitos e as consequências cardiológicas do uso prolongado de EAA em atletas recreativos. METODOLOGIA: Foi realizada uma revisão narrativa baseada em artigos encontrados entre os anos de 2012 e 2020, em bases de dados indexadas, por meio dos descritores: Cardiology, Steroids e Atheletes. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionadas 21 publicações para serem utilizadas como referencial para este artigo. DISCUSSÃO: Os EAAs mais utilizados e seus possíveis prejuízos cardiovasculares: testosterona, que induz o vasoespasmo, GH, que ocasiona hipertrofia miocárdica e redução do desempenho cardíaco e tiroxina, cujo excesso desencadeia hipertireoidismo crônico, associado a alterações cardíacas deletérias. Estudos mostram também a correlação da entre o abuso de EAA e hipertensão arterial reversível e irreversível, hipertrofia cardíaca, tromboembolismo, arritmias e hiper-homocisteinemia. Em caso de parada cardíaca, o EAA associado a exercícios físicos aumentam a suscetibilidade à fibrilação ventricular, provocando morte cardíaca súbita. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de EAA geram graves efeitos no sistema cardiovascular a curto e a longo prazo e por isso, exigem atenção dos usuários recreativos

Impact of social isolation during COVID-19 on anthropometric data, quality of life, baseline physical activity and aortic pulse wave parameters in children and adolescents in two independent samples

Abstract Background The social restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on the routine of children and adolescents, with important consequences such as sleep, eating, and psychological/psychiatric disorders. Even though there are no studies on the subject, it is possible that these changes in habit and routine have also affected arterial stiffness (AS) in this population, which is an important predictor of cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to assess possible changes in AS, anthropometry, and quality of life (QoL) resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents. Methods A controlled observational cross-sectional study was performed with 193 children and adolescents aged 9 to 19 years, allocated into two groups: before the pandemic (BPG) and one year after the pandemic (APG), matched by age and sex. Cardiovascular parameters were measured non-invasively by brachial artery oscillometry with a portable device. The main AS indices evaluated were the augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) derived from the aortic pulse wave. QoL was assessed using the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0). Results Regarding QoL, the APG showed a worsening in emotional (p = 0.002) and school-related (p = 0.010) aspects. There was no statistically significant difference for most anthropometric parameters, except for the hip circumference, which was higher in the APG group (p < 0.001). The main predictor of AS in the paediatric population, AIx@75, was shown to be increased in the APG group (p < 0.001). Other cardiovascular parameters were also different, such as peripheral (p = 0.002) and central (p = 0.003) diastolic blood pressure, stroke volume (p = 0.010), and total vascular resistance (p = 0.002), which were shown to be decreased in the APG group, while the heart rate was increased (p < 0.001). Conclusions Our results show that routine changes resulting from the period of social isolation increased cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents, evident by the increase in AIx@75, which is considered to be an important marker of cardiovascular risk in the paediatric population