Stress-induced changes in inflammatory and atherosclerosis markers during official basketball games in professional coaches

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectiveTop-level competitive sports coaches repeatedly cope with situations of acute stress in order to succeed and manage high team performance. Occupational stress-induced biochemical and immune system markers are not well studied for this specific group of people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress-induced alterations of inflammatory markers and atherosclerosis risk factors during an official basketball game in top-level professional basketball coaches (head and assistant).MethodsBlood samples and vital signs were obtained from 27 healthy coaches (Greek A1 Men’s National Basketball League), 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the games. We performed a full blood count and measured inflammatory cytokines, atherosclerosis markers and cortisol levels. Data were statistically analysed using two-tailed paired and independent samples t-tests and Pearson’s Correlations.ResultsPost-game neutrophils (NEU) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels were significantly increased while lymphocytes (LYM) were significantly decreased in comparison to pre-game values. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) levels were considered as a pre-hypertension state at both measurements. We found significant alterations between head and assistant coaches in diastolic blood pressure and cortisol levels after the game. Cortisol was negatively correlated to inflammatory cytokine levels and positively correlated with ApoB levels.ConclusionsGame-induced acute psychological stress initiates an aseptic inflammatory response in top-level professional coaches and can be related to the atherosclerosis pathways posing as an acute as well as chronic health threat for top-level coaches who have to deal with long periods of stressful working conditions.SUMMARY BOXWhat are the new findings?Top-level basketball games induce an aseptic inflammatory response in professional basketball coaches mainly manifested by increased levels of peripheral blood neutrophilsThe response to game conditions also included elevated levels of ApoB after the game that were positively correlated with cortisol levelsStressful game conditions over a long season of games could pose as a serious health issue for professional coachesHealth monitoring for professional coaches in top-level competitive sports such as basketball should be implemented more often with particular focus on inflammatory and atherosclerosis markers