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Sejersen C, Volianitis S, Secher NH. The athlete's heart: allometric considerations on published papers and relation to cardiovascular variables. Eur J Appl Physiol 2024; 124:1337-1346. [PMID: 38466432 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05449-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
To evaluate the morphology of the "athlete's heart", left ventricular (LV) wall thickness (WT) and end-diastolic internal diameter (LVIDd) at rest were addressed in publications on skiers, rowers, swimmers, cyclists, runners, weightlifters (n = 927), and untrained controls (n = 173) and related to the acute and maximal cardiovascular response to their respective disciplines. Dimensions of the heart at rest and functional variables established during the various sport disciplines were scaled to body weight for comparison among athletes independent of body mass. The two measures of LV were related (r = 0.8; P = 0.04) across athletic disciplines. With allometric scaling to body weight, LVIDd was similar between weightlifters and controls but 7%-15% larger in the other athletic groups, while WT was 9%-24% enlarged in all athletes. The LVIDd was related to stroke volume, oxygen pulse, maximal oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and blood volume (r = ~ 0.9, P < 0.05), while there was no relationship between WT and these variables (P > 0.05). In conclusion, while cardiac enlargement is, in part, essential for the generation of the cardiac output and thus stroke volume needed for competitive endurance exercise, an enlarged WT seems important for the development of the wall tension required for establishing normal arterial pressure in the enlarged LVIDd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper Sejersen
- Department of Anaesthesia, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet 2043, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
- The August Krogh Section for Human Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Stefanos Volianitis
- Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Niels H Secher
- Department of Anaesthesia, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet 2043, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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Ramcharan T, Edwards J, O'Driscoll J, Papadakis M. The Acute Impact of Endurance Exercise on Right Ventricular Structure and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Card Electrophysiol Clin 2024; 16:25-34. [PMID: 38280812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccep.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
There have been many studies since the late 1980s investigating the effect of endurance exercise on the left ventricle. More recently, attention has shifted to the right heart, with suggestions that endurance exercise may have a detrimental effect on the right ventricle. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes and critiques 26 studies, including 649 athletes, examining the acute impact of endurance exercise on the right ventricle. We also present a subanalysis contrasting ultraendurance with endurance exercise. Finally, we identify areas for future research, such as the influence of sex, ethnicity, and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Ramcharan
- Heart Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom; MSc Sports Cardiology, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Edwards
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent CT1 1QU, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie O'Driscoll
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent CT1 1QU, United Kingdom.
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Augustine DX, Willis J, Sivalokanathan S, Wild C, Sharma A, Zaidi A, Pearce K, Stuart G, Papadakis M, Sharma S, Malhotra A. Right ventricular assessment of the adolescent footballer's heart. Echo Res Pract 2024; 11:7. [PMID: 38424646 PMCID: PMC10905853 DOI: 10.1186/s44156-023-00039-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Athletic training can result in electrical and structural changes of the right ventricle that may mimic phenotypical features of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), such as T-wave inversion and right heart dilatation. An erroneous interpretation may have consequences ranging from false reassurance in an athlete vulnerable to cardiac arrhythmias, to unnecessary sports restriction in a healthy individual. The primary aim of this study was to define normal RV dimension reference ranges for academy adolescent footballers of different ethnicities. Secondary aims include analysis of potential overlap between this adolescent group with ARVC criteria and comparison with normal adult ranges. RESULTS Electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic data of 1087 academy male footballers aged between 13 and 18 years old (mean age 16.0 ± 0.5 years), attending mandatory cardiac screening were analysed. Ethnicity was categorised as white (n = 826), black (African/Caribbean; n = 166) and mixed-race (one parent white and one parent black; n = 95). Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy major criteria for T-wave inversion was seen in 3.3% of the cohort. This was more prevalent in black footballers (12%) when compared to mixed race footballers (6.3%) or white footballers (1%), P < 0.05. Up to 59% of the cohort exceeded adult reference ranges for some of the right ventricular parameters, although values were similar to those seen in adult footballers. There were no differences in right ventricular dimensions between ethnicities. In particular, the right ventricular outflow tract diameter would fulfil major criteria for ARVC dimension in 12% of footballers. Overall, 0.2% of the cohort would fulfil diagnosis for 'definite' arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and 2.2% would fulfil diagnosis for 'borderline' arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy for RV dimensions and ECG changes. This was seen more frequently in black footballers (9.9%) than mixed race footballers (3.9%) or white footballer (0.6%), P < 0.05. Among athletes meeting definite or borderline arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy criteria, no cardiomyopathy was identified after comprehensive clinical assessment, including with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, exercise testing, ambulatory electrocardiograms and familial evaluation. CONCLUSION Right heart sizes in excess of accepted adult ranges occurred in as many as one in two adolescent footballers. Structural adaptations in conjunction with anterior T-wave inversion may raise concern for ARVC, highlighting the need for evaluation in expert settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- D X Augustine
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - J Willis
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
| | - S Sivalokanathan
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - C Wild
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
| | - A Sharma
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, St George's, University of London and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - A Zaidi
- University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - K Pearce
- Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - G Stuart
- Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - M Papadakis
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S Sharma
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A Malhotra
- Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
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Lord RN, Adams ZH, George K, Somauroo J, Jones H, Oxborough D. Exploratory assessment of right ventricular structure and function during prolonged endurance cycling exercise. Echo Res Pract 2023; 10:22. [PMID: 38115147 PMCID: PMC10731767 DOI: 10.1186/s44156-023-00035-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A reduction in right ventricular (RV) function during recovery from prolonged endurance exercise has been documented alongside RV dilatation. A relative elevation in pulmonary artery pressure and therefore RV afterload during exercise has been implicated in this post-exercise dysfunction but has not yet been demonstrated. The current study aimed to assess RV structure and function and pulmonary artery pressure before, during and after a 6-h cycling exercise bout. METHODS Eight ultra-endurance athletes were recruited for this study. Participants were assessed prior to exercise supine and seated, during exercise at 2, 4 and 6 h whilst cycling seated at 75% maximum heart rate, and post-exercise in the supine position. Standard 2D, Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography were used to determine indices of RV size, systolic and diastolic function. RESULTS Heart rate and RV functional parameters increased from baseline during exercise, however RV structural parameters and indices of RV systolic and diastolic function were unchanged between in-exercise assessment points. Neither pulmonary artery pressures (26 ± 9 mmHg vs 17 ± 10 mmHg, P > 0.05) nor RV wall stress (7.1 ± 3.0 vs 6.2 ± 2.4, P > 0.05) were significantly elevated during exercise. Despite this, post-exercise measurements revealed RV dilation (increased RVD1 and 3), and reduced RV global strain (- 21.2 ± 3.5 vs - 23.8 ± 2.3, P = 0.0168) and diastolic tissue velocity (13.8 ± 2.5 vs 17.1 ± 3.4, P = 0.019) vs pre-exercise values. CONCLUSION A 6 h cycling exercise bout at 75% maximum heart rate did not alter RV structure, systolic or diastolic function assessments during exercise. Pulmonary artery pressures are not elevated beyond normal limits and therefore RV afterload is unchanged throughout exercise. Despite this, there is some evidence of RV dilation and altered function in post-exercise measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel N Lord
- Centre for Health Activity and Wellbeing Research, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK.
| | - Zoe H Adams
- Centre for Health Activity and Wellbeing Research, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK
| | - Keith George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool, UK
| | - John Somauroo
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool, UK
- Countess of Chester Hospital, NHS Trust, Chester, UK
| | - Helen Jones
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool, UK
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Flanagan H, Cooper R, George KP, Augustine DX, Malhotra A, Paton MF, Robinson S, Oxborough D. The athlete's heart: insights from echocardiography. Echo Res Pract 2023; 10:15. [PMID: 37848973 PMCID: PMC10583359 DOI: 10.1186/s44156-023-00027-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The manifestations of the athlete's heart can create diagnostic challenges during an echocardiographic assessment. The classifications of the morphological and functional changes induced by sport participation are often beyond 'normal limits' making it imperative to identify any overlap between pathology and normal physiology. The phenotype of the athlete's heart is not exclusive to one chamber or function. Therefore, in this narrative review, we consider the effects of sporting discipline and training volume on the holistic athlete's heart, as well as demographic factors including ethnicity, body size, sex, and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Flanagan
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Robert Cooper
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Keith P George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Daniel X Augustine
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Aneil Malhotra
- Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Maria F Paton
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK.
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Forsythe L, George K, Papadakis M, Mill N, Daniels M, Oxborough D. Seasonal variation of cardiac structure and function in the elite rugby football league athlete. Echo Res Pract 2023; 10:16. [PMID: 37817231 PMCID: PMC10566089 DOI: 10.1186/s44156-023-00026-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-participation cardiac screening (PCS) of "Super-League" rugby football league (RFL) athletes is mandatory but may be completed at any time point. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac electrical, structural and functional variation across the competitive season. METHODS Elite, male, RFL athletes from a single Super-League club underwent cardiac evaluation using electrocardiography (ECG), 2D echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) at four time points across the RFL season; (1) End pre-season (ENDPRE), (2) mid-season (MIDCOMP), (3) end-season (ENDCOMP) and (4) End off-season (ENDOFF). Training loads for each time point were also determined. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc Bonferroni were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS Total workload undertaken by athletes was lower at both MIDCOMP and ENDCOMP compared to ENDPRE (P < 0.001). ECG patterns were normal with training-related changes that were largely consistent across assessments. Structural data did not vary across assessment points. Standard functional data was not different across assessment points but apical rotation and twist were higher at ENDPRE (9.83˚ and 16.55˚, respectively compared to all other time points (MIDCOMP, 6.13˚ and 12.62˚; ENDCOMP, 5.84˚ and 12.12˚; ENDOFF 6.60˚ and 12.35˚). CONCLUSIONS Despite some seasonal variation in training load, the athletes' ECG and cardiac structure were stable across a competitive season. Seasonal variation in left ventricular (LV) apical rotation and twist, associated with higher training loads, should be noted in the context of PCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynsey Forsythe
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Keith George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Liverpool, L3 3AF UK
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, St Georges University of London, London, UK
| | - Nathan Mill
- St Helens Rugby Football League Club, St Helens, UK
| | - Matt Daniels
- St Helens Rugby Football League Club, St Helens, UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Liverpool, L3 3AF UK
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Akgümüş A, Kurtoğlu A, Aydın E, Balun A, Çar B, Eken Ö, Aldhahi MI. The insufficiency of recreational exercises in improving cardiovascular fitness: an investigation of ventricular systolic and diastolic parameters and left atrial mechanical functions. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2023; 23:486. [PMID: 37794316 PMCID: PMC10552377 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-023-03508-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to compare the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic parameters and left atrial (LA) mechanical functions of individuals engaging in recreational sports and resistance exercises on a weekly basis. METHODS A total of 43 male amateur athletes were included in this study, of which 24 performed resistance exercises (REs) (29.70 ± 8.74 year, weight: 81.70 ± 12.64 kg, height: 176.05 ± 7.73 cm, BMI: 27.64 ± 4.97 kg/m2), and 19 participated in recreational football training and were included in the recreational sports group (31.73 ± 6.82 year, weight: 86.00 ± 18.52 kg, height: 178.62 ± 4.95 cm, BMI: 25.55 ± 3.42 kg/m2). The exercises were standardized according to the weekly exercise frequency and volume. After recording the participants' demographic information, the LV systolic and diastolic parameters and LA mechanical functions were measured using echocardiography (ECHO) and Tissue Doppler Imaging. RESULTS Significant differences were observed in various cardiac parameters between the recreational sports group (REG) and resistance exercise Group (RSG). Specifically, the left ventricular (LV) diastolic diameter, LV end diastolic volume index (LVEDVi), and stroke volume index were notably higher in the REG compared to the RSG (t = 2.804, p = .010, effect size (ES) = 2.10; t = 3.174, p = .003, ES = 0.98; t = 3.36, p = .002, ES = 1.02, respectively). Notably, the RSG exhibited higher values for LV mass index (LVMi) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) than the REG (t = 2.843, p = .007, ES = 0.87; t = 2.517, p = .016, ES = 0.76) in terms of LV systolic and diastolic parameters. Regarding left atrial (LA) mechanics, the REG demonstrated increased LA total emptying volume index, LA maximum volume index, LA volume before systole measured at the onset of the p-wave index, and conduit volume index compared to RSG (t = 2.419, p = .020, ES = 0.75; t = 2.669, p = .011, ES = 0.81; t = 2.111, p = .041, ES = 0.64; t = 2.757, p = .009, ES = 0.84, respectively). CONCLUSION Our study revealed significant variations in LV and LA functions between REG and RSG. Our data suggest that REs led to substantial cardiac remodeling, altering myocardial structure and function. In contrast, the effect of recreational exercise on cardiac adaptation was less pronounced than that of resistance exercise. Consequently, we propose that individuals engaging in recreational exercise should consider modalities that impose higher cardiovascular demand for more effective cardiac conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alkame Akgümüş
- Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma, 10200 Turkey
| | - Ahmet Kurtoğlu
- Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Science, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma, 10200 Turkey
| | - Engin Aydın
- Department of Pediadrics, Medical Faculty, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma, 10200 Turkey
| | - Ahmet Balun
- Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma, 10200 Turkey
| | - Bekir Çar
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Teaching, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma, 10200 Turkey
| | - Özgür Eken
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Teaching, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Monira I. Aldhahi
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671 Saudi Arabia
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Fu Y, Gao J, Zhang Z, Zhang N, Yu J, Chen C, Wen Z. Effects of preoperative mildly elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure on the incidence of perioperative adverse events undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy: an observational cohort study protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e072084. [PMID: 37748854 PMCID: PMC10533698 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Echocardiography provides a non-invasive estimation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and is the first diagnostic test for pulmonary hypertension. Recent studies have demonstrated that PASP of more than 30 mm Hg related to increased mortality and morbidity. However, perioperative risks and management for patients with mildly elevated PASP are not well established. This study aims to explore the association between mildly elevated PASP and perioperative adverse outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This will be a retrospective cohort study conducted at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital in Shanghai, China. Eligible patients are adults (≥18 years) who performed preoperative echocardiography and followed thoracoscopic lobectomy. Our primary objective is to determine the effect of preoperative mildly elevated PASP on the incidence of hypotension during surgery. Whether mildly elevated PASP is related to other perioperative adverse events (including hypoxaemia, myocardial injury, new-onset atrial fibrillation, postoperative pulmonary complications, 30-day readmission and 30-day mortality) will be also analysed. An estimated 2300 patients will be included. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the institutional review board of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (approval No: 2022LY1143). The research findings intend to be published in peer-reviewed scientific publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200066679).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiameng Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zongmei Wen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Segreti A, Celeski M, Monticelli LM, Perillo A, Crispino SP, Di Gioia G, Cammalleri V, Fossati C, Mega S, Papalia R, Pigozzi F, Ussia GP, Grigioni F. Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Disease in Athletes. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103562. [PMID: 37240669 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Observing mitral or tricuspid valve disease in an athlete raises many considerations for the clinician. Initially, the etiology must be clarified, with causes differing depending on whether the athlete is young or a master. Notably, vigorous training in competitive athletes leads to a constellation of structural and functional adaptations involving cardiac chambers and atrioventricular valve systems. In addition, a proper evaluation of the athlete with valve disease is necessary to evaluate the eligibility for competitive sports and identify those requiring more follow-up. Indeed, some valve pathologies are associated with an increased risk of severe arrhythmias and potentially sudden cardiac death. Traditional and advanced imaging modalities help clarify clinical doubts, allowing essential information about the athlete's physiology and differentiating between primary valve diseases from those secondary to training-related cardiac adaptations. Remarkably, another application of multimodality imaging is evaluating athletes with valve diseases during exercise to reproduce the sport setting and better characterize the etiology and valve defect mechanism. This review aims to analyze the possible causes of atrioventricular valve diseases in athletes, focusing primarily on imaging applications in diagnosis and risk stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Segreti
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135 Roma, Italy
| | - Mihail Celeski
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Luigi Maria Monticelli
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Alfonso Perillo
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Simone Pasquale Crispino
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Gioia
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135 Roma, Italy
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Sport and Health, National Italian Olympic Committee, Largo Piero Gabrielli, 00197 Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Cammalleri
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Chiara Fossati
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135 Roma, Italy
| | - Simona Mega
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Rocco Papalia
- Research Unit of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
- Research Unit of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Pigozzi
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135 Roma, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Ussia
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Grigioni
- Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Roma, Italy
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Ben Abdessalem MA, Ghariani A, Fekih Romdhane A, Ben Ameur Z, Bouraoui H, Abdelah M, Ernez-Hajri S. [Monocentric retrospective study on the prevalence and significance of incomplete right bundle branch block in young competitive athletes in Tunisia]. Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 2023; 72:101582. [PMID: 36934479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ancard.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Few studies have assessed the prevalence and significance of right bundle branch block in athletes. Aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of incomplete right bundle branch block and its correlation with the nature of sports practice and to compare the athlete with right bundle branch block and the one with a normal electrocardiogram. METHODS It was a retrospective study of the electrocardiogram and echocardiography of competitive athletes recruited in the medical-sports center of Sousse RESULTS: A total of 554 athletes were included. Mean age was 16.1 ± 2.9 years and 69 % were male. The mean training duration was 5.8 hours per week. The prevalence of incomplete right bundle branch block was 13.9 % (77 cases). Endurance sports were practiced in 71.4 % of cases among subjects with right bundle branch block versus 55.4 % in the rest of the population (p < 0.001). The basal diameter of the right ventricle was larger in athletes with right bundle branch block compared to athletes without right bundle branch block: 28 ± 3.6 mm versus 24 ± 2.4 mm (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that right bundle branch block is a marker of incomplete right ventricular remodeling. This remodeling represents a form of adaptation to sustained elevation of volumetric load observed mainly in endurance sports.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anis Ghariani
- Service de cardiologie, Centre hospital-universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie.
| | - Ahmed Fekih Romdhane
- Service de cardiologie, Centre hospital-universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie
| | - Zied Ben Ameur
- Service de cardiologie, Centre hospital-universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie
| | - Hatem Bouraoui
- Service de cardiologie, Centre hospital-universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie
| | - Mahdhaoui Abdelah
- Service de cardiologie, Centre hospital-universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie; Université de Sousse, Laboratoire de recherche : LR14ES05 : Interaction du système cardio-pulmonaire, Faculté de Médecine de Sousse, Tunisie
| | - Samia Ernez-Hajri
- Service de cardiologie, Centre hospital-universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie; Hôpital Farhat Hached de Sousse, Laboratoire de recherche : LRSP09 : Insuffisance cardiaque, Tunisie
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11
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The Acute Impact of Endurance Exercise on Right Ventricular Structure and Function. Cardiol Clin 2022; 41:25-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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12
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Raman KS, Vyselaar JR. Electrocardiographic Findings in Professional Male Athletes. Clin J Sport Med 2022; 32:e513-e520. [PMID: 36083337 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To generate granular normative electrocardiogram (ECG) data and characterize the variation by ethnicity and sport played. DESIGN Cross-sectional study; ECGs were collected from preseason screening programs from 2012 to 2019 and interpreted in accordance with athlete-specific guidelines. SETTING Of the professional athletes based in Vancouver, the North Shore Heart Centre performs the annual preparticipation ECG screening. PARTICIPANTS Seven hundred fifty-three professional male athletes competing in hockey, football, lacrosse, skiing, and snowboarding. INTERVENTIONS Independent variables include commonly transcribed electrocardiographic findings, for example, those indicating benign and pathologic findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of and variance in electrocardiographic findings by sport played and ethnicity. RESULTS Of the 753 athletes, 171 (22.3%) were National Hockey League, 358 (47.5%) were Canadian Football League, 163 (21.6%) were Major League Soccer and/or the Canadian National Soccer team, and 61 (8%) others. The most common finding, sinus bradycardia, was more likely in both soccer (P < 0.001) and hockey (P < 0.001) versus football players. Early repolarization (ER) was more likely in soccer players versus both hockey (P < 0.001) and football players (P = 0.001). Within football, Black athletes (BA) were more likely than White athletes to display ER (P = 0.009), left ventricular hypertrophy (P = 0.004), and nonspecific ST changes (P = 0.027). CONCLUSION Our study contributes to the generation of normative data for ECG findings while accounting for ethnic and sport-specific variation. The expected clinical presentation of endurance athletes, including soccer players, and the possible predisposition of BA to develop distinct adaptations can augment clinical care by delineating physiology from pathologic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karanvir S Raman
- Karanvir S. Raman: Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - John R Vyselaar
- Division of Cardiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; and
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia
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13
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Valenzuela PL, Baggish A, Castillo-García A, Santos-Lozano A, Boraita A, Lucia A. Strenuous Endurance Exercise and the Heart: Physiological versus Pathological Adaptations. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:4067-4085. [PMID: 35950659 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Although the benefits of regular physical activity on cardiovascular health are well established, the effects of strenuous endurance exercise (SEE) have been a matter of debate since ancient times. In this article, we aim to provide a balanced overview of what is known about SEE and the heart-from epidemiological evidence to recent cardiac imaging findings. Lifelong SEE is overall cardioprotective, with endurance master athletes showing in fact a youthful heart. Yet, some lines of research remain open, such as the need to elucidate the time-course and potential relevance of transient declines in heart function (or increases in biomarkers of cardiac injury) with SEE. The underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance of SEE-associated atrial fibrillation, myocardial fibrosis, or high coronary artery calcium scores also remain to be elucidated. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-19, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro L Valenzuela
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group ('PaHerg'), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Cardiovascular Performance Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adrián Castillo-García
- Fissac - Physiology, Health and Physical Activity, Madrid, Spain.,Biology Systems Department, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Santos-Lozano
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group ('PaHerg'), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain.,i+HeALTH, European University Miguel de Cervantes, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Araceli Boraita
- Department of Cardiology, Sports Medicine Center, Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sports, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Lucia
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group ('PaHerg'), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain.,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Sørensen EIVIND, Myrstad MARIUS, Solberg MAGNARGANGÅS, Øie ERIK, Tveit ARNLJOT, Aarønæs MARIT. Right heart structure and function in lifelong recreational endurance athletes with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2022; 35:1259-1268. [PMID: 35760278 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthy young athletes adapt to the increased demands of endurance exercise with symmetric cardiac remodeling. Male veteran endurance athletes have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), and some athletes seem susceptible to changes mimicking arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Intense exercise puts a disproportionate hemodynamic load on the right-sided heart chambers. Despite this, data describing right heart structure and function in older veteran athletes are scarce. We aimed to investigate structural and functional characteristics of the right heart in veteran athletes with and without AF to contribute to the understanding of exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in this group. METHODS Three hundred and two male participants, of whom 151 were veteran skiers (62 with paroxysmal AF) and 151 were controls from the general population (62 with paroxysmal AF) underwent an echocardiographic examination in sinus rhythm to evaluate right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) structure and function. While 87 of the participants had never exercised regularly, 50, 43, and 122 men had practiced regular endurance exercise for 1-20, 20-40, and >40 years, respectively. RESULTS RA volume and RV size increased with cumulative years of exercise (p<0.001), with a disproportionate increase in RV size compared with left ventricular (LV) size, regardless of AF status (p<0.001). RA and RV function assessed by strain remained similar despite lifelong exposure to endurance exercise. AF was associated with reduced RA strain irrespective of exposure to exercise (p<0.001). CONCLUSION RA and RV size and RV/LV ratio showed a dose-response relationship with cumulative years of endurance exercise, whereas RA and RV function did not. Indicating that increasing RV/LV ratio may represent a physiological adaptation to prolonged endurance exercise. AF was associated with reduced RA function, regardless of exposure to exercise, suggesting RA functional parameters are more closely linked to AF than RA size in veteran athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- E I V I N D Sørensen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, N-0370, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, N-1346, Gjettum, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - M A R I U S Myrstad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, N-1346, Gjettum, Norway; Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, N-1346, Gjettum, Norway
| | - M A G N A R G A N G Å S Solberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, N-1346, Gjettum, Norway; Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, N-1346, Gjettum, Norway
| | - E R I K Øie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, N-0370, Oslo, Norway
| | - A R N L J O T Tveit
- Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, N-1346, Gjettum, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - M A R I T Aarønæs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, N-0370, Oslo, Norway
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15
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Cardiac remodeling in ambitious endurance-trained amateur athletes older than 50 years–an observational study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266951. [PMID: 35413088 PMCID: PMC9004772 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Data on cardiac remodeling in veteran athletes are conflicting but of clinical importance. Methods Sixty-nine clinically stable and healthy individuals >50 years were identified (median 55 (IQR 52–64), 26% female). Echocardiographic features were identified in individuals, who have performed endurance sports at 70% of their maximum heart rate for at least 1 hour 3 times/ week over the previous 5 years. Results Median training time in all participants was 6 hours per week. Therefore, based on these 6 hours of weekly training, participants were grouped into 45 ambitious endurance-trained amateur athletes (EAA) and 24 recreationally active endurance-trained athletes (RAP) training ≥6 hours (6–10) and <6 hours (3.5–5), respectively. Left ventricular (LV) diameters were slightly larger in EAA than in RAP (27 mm/m2 (25–28) vs. 25 mm/m2 (24–27), p = 0.023) and EAA showed preserved diastolic function (p = 0.028) with lower E/E’ ratio (7 (6–9) vs. 9 (7–10), p = 0.039). Interventricular septal thickness and relative wall thickness ratio were similar. Global right ventricular and LV strain were similar, but left atrial (LA) reservoir strain was higher in EAA than in RAP (27% (22–34) vs. 20% (15–29), p = 0.002). Conclusions Endurance training in healthy athletes >50 years is not associated with chamber dilatation or LV hypertrophy. A weekly training duration of ≥6 hours seems beneficial to preserve diastolic function associated with an increased LA reservoir function.
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16
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Athlete’s Heart in Elite Biathlon, Nordic Cross—Country and Ski-Mountaineering Athletes: Cardiac Adaptions Determined Using Echocardiographic Data. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 9:jcdd9010008. [PMID: 35050218 PMCID: PMC8779238 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Twelve world elite Biathlon (Bia), ten Nordic Cross Country (NCC) and ten ski-mountaineering (Ski-Mo) athletes were evaluated for pronounced echocardiographic physiological cardiac remodeling as a primary aim of our descriptive preliminary report. In this context, sports-related cardiac remodeling was analyzed by performing two-dimensional echocardiography including speckle tracking analysis as left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS). A multicenter retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data was performed in 32 elite world winter sports athletes, which were obtained between 2020 and 2021 during the annual medical examination. The matched data of the elite world winter sports athletes (14 women, 18 male athletes, age: 18–35 years) were compared for different echocardiographic parameters. Significant differences could be revealed for left ventricular systolic function (LV-EF, p = 0.0001), left ventricular mass index (LV Mass index, p = 0.0078), left atrial remodeling by left atrial volume index (LAVI, p = 0.0052), and LV-GLS (p = 0.0003) between the three professional winter sports disciplines. This report provides new evidence that resting measures of cardiac structure and function in elite winter sport professionals can identify sport specific remodeling of the left heart, against the background of training schedule and training frequency.
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17
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Conti V, Migliorini F, Pilone M, Barriopedro MI, Ramos-Álvarez JJ, Montero FJC, Maffulli N. Right heart exercise-training-adaptation and remodelling in endurance athletes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22532. [PMID: 34795399 PMCID: PMC8602371 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term sports training leads to myocardial adaptations, with remodelling of the heart chambers. However, while myocardial adaptations of the left heart are well described, remodelling of the right heart and its impact on the development of arrhythmias is still debated. To conduct a systematic review on right ventricle (RV) and right atrium (RA) structural and functional changes in athletes who participate in long-term endurance training. Systematic review. A systematic literature search was conducted. All the articles reporting right heart echocardiographic (ECHO) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters evaluated in endurance athletes and sedentary subjects were considered eligible. A multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate whether age, sex, body surface area (BSA), intensity of training are associated with RV ECHO, CMR parameters and RA ECHO parameters. A positive association between age and right atrium area (RAA) (P = 0.01) was found. This is a negative association to RV E/A (P = 0.004), and RV end diastolic diameter (RVED) longitudinal (P = 0.01). A positive association between BSA and RVED middle (P = 0.001), as well between BSA and RAA (P = 0.05) was found, along with a negative association with RV E/A (P = 0.002). A positive association between intensity of training and RV end systolic area (RVESA) (P = 0.03), RV end diastolic volume indexed (RVEDVI) (P = 0.01), RV end systolic volume indexed (RVESVI) (P = 0.01) was found, along with a negative association with ejection fraction (EF %) (P = 0.01). Endurance athletes demonstrated an association between RV remodelling and age, BSA and intensity of training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Conti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy
| | - Filippo Migliorini
- Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, and Recontructive Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Marco Pilone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy
| | - María I Barriopedro
- Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José Ramos-Álvarez
- Escuela de Medicina Deportiva. Departamento de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javer Calderon Montero
- Escuela de Medicina Deportiva. Departamento de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicola Maffulli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy
- Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, Queen Mary University of London, 275 Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG, England, UK
- Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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18
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The Role of Multimodality Imaging in Athlete's Heart Diagnosis: Current Status and Future Directions. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10215126. [PMID: 34768646 PMCID: PMC8584488 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10215126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
“Athlete’s heart” is a spectrum of morphological and functional changes which occur in the heart of people who practice physical activity. When athlete’s heart occurs with its most marked expression, it may overlap with a differential diagnosis with certain structural cardiac diseases, including cardiomyopathies, valvular diseases, aortopathies, myocarditis, and coronary artery anomalies. Identifying the underlying cardiac is essential to reduce the potential for sudden cardiac death. For this purpose, a spectrum of imaging modalities, including rest and exercise stress echocardiography, speckle tracking echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and nuclear scintigraphy, can be undertaken. The objective of this review article is to provide to the clinician a practical step-by-step approach, aiming at distinguishing between extreme physiology and structural cardiac disease during the athlete’s cardiovascular evaluation.
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19
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Sex-Specific Impacts of Exercise on Cardiovascular Remodeling. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10173833. [PMID: 34501285 PMCID: PMC8432130 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10173833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death in men and women. Biological sex plays a major role in cardiovascular physiology and pathological cardiovascular remodeling. Traditionally, pathological remodeling of cardiovascular system refers to the molecular, cellular, and morphological changes that result from insults, such as myocardial infarction or hypertension. Regular exercise training is known to induce physiological cardiovascular remodeling and beneficial functional adaptation of the cardiovascular apparatus. However, impact of exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling and functional adaptation varies between males and females. This review aims to compare and contrast sex-specific manifestations of exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling and functional adaptation. Specifically, we review (1) sex disparities in cardiovascular function, (2) influence of biological sex on exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling and functional adaptation, and (3) sex-specific impacts of various types, intensities, and durations of exercise training on cardiovascular apparatus. The review highlights both animal and human studies in order to give an all-encompassing view of the exercise-induced sex differences in cardiovascular system and addresses the gaps in knowledge in the field.
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20
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Szabo D, Nagy D, Melczer C, Acs P, Ratgeber L, Szokodi I, Toth M, Cziraki A, Eklics K, Sarszegi Z. Influencing Factors of Cardiac Adaptation in Adolescent Athletes. Int J Sports Med 2021; 42:1209-1221. [PMID: 34005827 DOI: 10.1055/a-1386-4805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Endurance training-induced changes in left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular parameters have been investigated extensively in adolescent athletes. Our aim was to examine the parameters for adolescent athletes (n=121, 15.1±1.6 years) compared to adult athletes and age-matched non-athletes. We explored the effects of influencing factors on the echocardiographic parameters. Significantly higher E/A (p<0.05) and e' values (p<0.001) were detected in adolescent athletes compared to age-matched non-athletes' and also adult athletes' parameters. Significantly lower structural and functional right ventricular parameters (p<0.05) were detected in adult athletes. In adolescent athletes significantly higher right ventricular diameters, tricuspid S wave, right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic area values (p<0.05) were found compared to the matching parameters of non-athletes. We found significantly higher corrected tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values (p<0.001) in athletes compared to the non-athletes. Based on multivariate analysis lean body mass, body surface area, age and cumulative training time were proved as strong predictive factors of both left ventricular diastolic and right ventricular parameters. Supernormal left ventricular diastolic function and significantly higher right ventricular parameters are indicative of cardiac adaptation. Well-defined cut-off values should be applied to discriminate pathological conditions in the relation of the influencing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Szabo
- Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Dora Nagy
- Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Csaba Melczer
- Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Pongrac Acs
- Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Ratgeber
- Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Istvan Szokodi
- Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Miklos Toth
- Szentagothai Research Centre , University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Attila Cziraki
- Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Kata Eklics
- Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Sarszegi
- Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
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21
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Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Wright SP, Meah VL, Yousef Z, Eves ND, Shave RE, Stembridge M. Right Ventricular Function and Region-Specific Adaptation in Athletes Engaged in High-Dynamic Sports: A Meta-Analysis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2021; 14:e012315. [PMID: 33993732 DOI: 10.1161/circimaging.120.012315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural remodeling of the right ventricle (RV) is widely documented in athletes. However, functional adaptation, including RV pressure generation and systolic free-wall longitudinal mechanics, remains equivocal. This meta-analysis compared RV pressure and function in athletes and controls. METHODS A systematic review of online databases was conducted up to June 4, 2020. Meta-analyses were performed on RV systolic pressures, at rest and during exercise, tricuspid annular plane systolic displacement, myocardial velocity (S'), and global and regional longitudinal strain. Bias was assessed using Egger regression for asymmetry. Data were analyzed using random-effects models with weighted mean difference and 95% CI. RESULTS Fifty-three studies were eligible for inclusion. RV systolic pressure was obtained from 21 studies at rest (n=1043:1651; controls:athletes) and 8 studies during exercise (n=240:495) and was significantly greater in athletes at rest (weighted mean difference, 2.9 mmHg [CI, 1.3-4.5 mmHg]; P=0.0005) and during exercise (11.0 [6.5-15.6 mm Hg]; P<0.0001) versus controls. Resting tricuspid annular plane systolic displacement (P<0.0001) and S' (P=0.001) were greater in athletes. In contrast, athletes had similar RV free-wall longitudinal strain (17 studies; n=450:605), compared with controls but showed greater longitudinal apical strain (16 studies; n=455:669; 0.9%, 0.1%-1.8%; P=0.03) and lower basal strain (-2.5% [-1.4 to -3.5%]; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Functional RV adaptation, characterized by increased tricuspid annular displacement and velocity and a greater base-to-apex strain gradient, is a normal feature of the athlete's heart, together with a slightly elevated RV systolic pressure. These findings contribute to our understanding of RV in athletes and highlight the importance of considering RV function in combination with structure in the clinical interpretation of the athlete's heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony G Dawkins
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom (T.G.D., B.A.C., M.S.)
| | - Bryony A Curry
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom (T.G.D., B.A.C., M.S.).,Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Stephen P Wright
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Victoria L Meah
- Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Canada (V.L.M.).,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Canada (V.L.M.).,Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Canada (V.L.M.)
| | - Zaheer Yousef
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom (Z.Y.)
| | - Neil D Eves
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Rob E Shave
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Michael Stembridge
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom (T.G.D., B.A.C., M.S.)
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22
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Albaeni A, Davis JW, Ahmad M. Echocardiographic evaluation of the Athlete's heart. Echocardiography 2021; 38:1002-1016. [PMID: 33971043 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac response to prolonged, intense exercise induces phenotypic and physiologic adaptive changes that improve myocardial ability to meet oxygen demands. These adaptations, termed "athletes' heart," have been extensively studied. The importance of this entity arises from the increasing numbers of athletes as well as the drive for physical fitness in the general population leading to adaptive cardiac changes that need to be differentiated from life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. A number of pathologic entities may share phenotypic changes with the athletes' heart such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, Marfan's syndrome, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Cardiologists need to be cognizant of these overlapping findings to appropriately diagnose diseases and prevent catastrophic outcomes especially in young and healthy individuals who may not show any symptoms until they engage in intense exercise. It is equally important to recognize and distinguish normal, exercise-adaptive cardiac changes to provide accurate screening and guidance to young elite athletes. Echocardiography is a valuable modality that allows comprehensive initial evaluation of cardiac structures, function, and response to exercise. Several different echocardiographic techniques including M-Mode, 2D echo, Doppler, tissue Doppler, color tissue Doppler, and speckle tracking have been used in the evaluation of cardiac adaptation to exercise. The following discussion is a review of literature that has expanded our knowledge of the athlete's heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiham Albaeni
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - John W Davis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Masood Ahmad
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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23
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Polito MV, Citro R, Galasso G, Hagendorff A. Analysis of Regional Right Ventricular Function by Tissue Doppler Imaging and Three-Dimensional Echocardiography in Highly Trained Athletes. J Cardiovasc Echogr 2020; 30:146-153. [PMID: 33447505 PMCID: PMC7799068 DOI: 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_30_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Regional right ventricular (RV) function has not yet been characterized in highly trained athletes, and the effects of increased RV volumes on resting changes of regional RV deformation are unknown. Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze global and regional RV function by a multisegmental approach using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and to determine whether higher RV volumes evaluated by three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) had an impact on the RV mechanics assessed by resting regional TDI parameters. Methods: We enrolled prospectively 25 professional soccer players and 25 age- and sex-matched nonathletic controls. Transthoracic echocardiography including additional views of the RV was performed. The TDI sample volume was placed in the basal region of the anterior, inferior, and RV free wall to assess the following parameters: isovolumic contraction time (IVCTRV), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRTRV), ejection time (ETRV), and myocardial performance index (MPIRV). Furthermore, conventional left ventricular (LV) and RV parameters at two-dimensional (2D) and 3DE were determined. Results: In athletes, LV mass index/body surface area (BSA), left atrial volume index, 2D LV volumes/BSA were significantly increased in comparison with controls. Moreover, athletes had higher 2D LV and RV stroke volume (SV), lower values for A wave and E/e' ratio, higher basal RV diameter, and right atrial (RA) area (P < 0.0001). Moreover, athletes showed significantly increased LV and RV volumes and SV indexed for BSA (P < 0.0001) evaluated at 3DE. In athletes, ETRV-free wall, ETRV-anterior, IVCTRV-inferior, and IVCTRV-anterior were statistically increased (P < 0.0001). Conversely, IVRTRV-anterior was reduced in comparison with controls. A significant positive correlation between IVRTRV-inferior and three-dimensional (3D) RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume, and SV was observed in athletes. Finally, a good positive correlation was observed between 3D RV EDV and 3D LV SV indexed for BSA. Conclusions: In athletes, the higher 3D RV volumes are proportionally related to an increase of IVRTRV-inferior and 3D LV SV. Further studies on the resting changes of regional RV deformation for screening and follow-up in these participants are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vincenza Polito
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Citro
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gennaro Galasso
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Cavigli L, Focardi M, Cameli M, Mandoli GE, Mondillo S, D'Ascenzi F. The right ventricle in “Left-sided” cardiomyopathies: The dark side of the moon. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2020; 31:476-484. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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26
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Silva CES. Appropriate Use of Diastolic Function Guideline When Evaluating Athletes: It is not Always what it Seems to Be. Arq Bras Cardiol 2020; 115:134-138. [PMID: 32813828 PMCID: PMC8384328 DOI: 10.36660/abc.20190689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Baggish AL, Battle RW, Beaver TA, Border WL, Douglas PS, Kramer CM, Martinez MW, Mercandetti JH, Phelan D, Singh TK, Weiner RB, Williamson E. Recommendations on the Use of Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging in Young Adult Competitive Athletes: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography in Collaboration with the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2020; 33:523-549. [PMID: 32362332 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert W Battle
- University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | - William L Border
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | | | | | - Dermot Phelan
- Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute in Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | | | - Rory B Weiner
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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28
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Christou GA, O'Driscoll JM. The impact of demographic, anthropometric and athletic characteristics on left atrial size in athletes. Clin Cardiol 2020; 43:834-842. [PMID: 32271473 PMCID: PMC7403671 DOI: 10.1002/clc.23368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural adaptations of the “athlete's heart” include left atrial (LA) enlargement. A literature search was performed based on PubMed listings up to November 2, 2019 using “athletes AND left atrium,” “athletes AND LA,” “sports AND left atrium,” “sports AND LA,” “exercise AND left atrium,” and “exercise AND LA” as the search terms. Eligible studies included those reporting the influence of demographic, anthropometric and athletic characteristics on LA size in athletes. A total of 58 studies were included in this review article. Although LA volume has been reported to be greater in males compared to females when indexed for body surface area (BSA), there was no difference between sexes. The positive association between LA size and age in athletes may reflect the increase in body size with maturation in nonadult athletes and the training age of endurance athletic activity in adult athletes. Caucasian and black athletes have been demonstrated to exhibit similar LA enlargement. The positive association of LA size with lean body mass (LBM) possibly accounts for the relationship of LA size with BSA. LA enlargement has been reported only in endurance‐trained, but not in strength‐trained athletes. LA size appears to increase with an increase in both the volume and intensity of endurance training. LA size correlates independently with the training age of endurance athletes. The athlete's characteristics that independently determine LA size include LBM, endurance training, and training age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios A Christou
- Laboratory of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Division, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,MSc Sports Cardiology, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Jamie M O'Driscoll
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK.,Department of Cardiology, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
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Leischik R, Dworrak B, Strauss M, Horlitz M, Pareja-Galeano H, de la Guía-Galipienso F, Lippi G, Lavie CJ, Perez MV, Sanchis-Gomar F. Special Article - Exercise-induced right ventricular injury or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM): The bright side and the dark side of the moon. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2020; 63:671-681. [PMID: 32224113 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2020.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There is still debate on the range of normal physiologic changes of the right ventricle or ventricular (RV) function in athletes. Genetic links to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) are well-established. There is no current consensus on the importance of extensive exercise and exercise-induced injury to the RV. During the intensive exercise of endurance sports, the cardiac structures adapt to athletic load over time. Some athletes develop RV cardiomyopathy possibly caused by genetic predisposition, whilst others develop arrhythmias from the RV. Endurance sports lead to increased volume and pressure load in both ventricles and increased myocardial mass. The extent of volume increase and changes in myocardial structure contribute to impairment of RV function and pose a challenge in cardiovascular sports medicine. Genetic predisposition to ACM may play an important role in the risk of sudden cardiac death of athletes. In this review, we discuss and evaluate existing results and opinions. Intensive training in competitive dynamic/power and endurance sports leads to specific RV adaptation, but physiological adaptation without genetic predisposition does not necessarily lead to severe complications in endurance sports. Discriminating between physiological adaptation and pathological form of ACM or RV impairment provoked by reinforced exercise presents a challenge to clinical sports cardiologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Leischik
- Department of Cardiology, Section Prevention and Sports Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58095 Witten, Germany.
| | - Birgit Dworrak
- Department of Cardiology, Section Prevention and Sports Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58095 Witten, Germany
| | - Marcus Strauss
- Department of Cardiology I - Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Heart Failure Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Cardiol, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Mark Horlitz
- Department of Cardiology, Section Prevention and Sports Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58095 Witten, Germany
| | - Helios Pareja-Galeano
- Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte y Fisioterapia, Universidad Europea, 28670 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando de la Guía-Galipienso
- Cardiology Service of Marina Baixa Hospital, Alicante, Spain; REMA Sports Cardiology Clinic, 03700 Denia, Alicante, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School, The University of Queensland School of Medicine, 70121 New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Marco V Perez
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 94305-5110 Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Fabian Sanchis-Gomar
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 94305-5110 Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia and INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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Parry-Williams G, Sharma S. The effects of endurance exercise on the heart: panacea or poison? Nat Rev Cardiol 2020; 17:402-412. [PMID: 32152528 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-020-0354-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Regular aerobic physical exercise of moderate intensity is undeniably associated with improved health and increased longevity, with some studies suggesting that more is better. Endurance athletes exceed the usual recommendations for exercise by 15-fold to 20-fold. The need to sustain a large cardiac output for prolonged periods is associated with a 10-20% increase in left and right ventricular size and a substantial increase in left ventricular mass. A large proportion of endurance athletes have raised levels of cardiac biomarkers (troponins and B-type natriuretic peptide) and cardiac dysfunction for 24-48 h after events, but what is the relevance of these findings? In the longer term, some endurance athletes have an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease, myocardial fibrosis and arrhythmias. The inherent association between these 'maladaptations' and sudden cardiac death in the general population raises the question of whether endurance exercise could be detrimental for some individuals. However, despite speculation that these abnormalities confer an increased risk of future adverse events, elite endurance athletes have an increased life expectancy compared with the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Parry-Williams
- Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St. George's University of London, London, UK.
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31
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Sanz-de la Garza M, Carro A, Caselli S. How to interpret right ventricular remodeling in athletes. Clin Cardiol 2020; 43:843-851. [PMID: 32128858 PMCID: PMC7403694 DOI: 10.1002/clc.23350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-lasting athletic training induces an overload on the heart that leads to structural, functional, and electrical adaptive changes known as the "athlete's heart." The amount of this heart remodeling has been traditionally considered balanced between the left and the right heart chambers. However, during intense exercise, the right heart is exposed to a disproportional afterload and wall stress which over a long period of time could lead to more pronounced exercise-induced changes. Highly trained athletes, especially those involved in endurance sport disciplines, can develop marked right ventricular (RV) remodeling that could raise the suspicion of an underlying RV pathology including arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The distinction between physiological and pathological RV remodeling is essential as ACM is a common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes, and high-intensity exercise training has demonstrated to accelerate its phenotypic expression and worsen its prognosis. The distinction between physiological and pathological RV remodeling is essential since ACM is a common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes, and high-intensity exercise training has demonstrated to accelerate the phenotypic expression and worsen the prognosis. This article outlines the physiological adaptation of the RV to acute exercise, the subsequent physiological structural and functional changes induced by athletic training and provides useful tips of how to differentiate between physiological RV remodeling and a cardiomyopathy phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefano Caselli
- Cardiovascular Center Zürich, Klinik im Park, Zürich, Switzerland
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32
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Durand F, Gaston AF, Vicenzi M, Deboeck G, Subirats E, Faoro V. Noninvasive Pulmonary Hemodynamic Evaluation in Athletes With Exercise-Induced Hypoxemia. Chest 2020; 157:1568-1578. [PMID: 32081649 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary capillary stress failure is potentially involved in exercise-induced hypoxemia (ie, a significant fall in hemoglobin oxygen saturation [Spo2]) during sea level exercise in endurance-trained athletes. It is unknown whether there are specific properties of pulmonary vascular function in athletes exhibiting oxygen desaturation. METHODS Ten endurance-trained athletes with exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH), nine endurance-trained athletes with no exercise-induced hypoxemia (NEIH), and 10 untrained control subjects underwent an incremental exercise stress echocardiography coupled with lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (Dlco) and lung diffusion capacity for nitric oxide (Dlno) testing. Functional adaptation of the pulmonary circulation was evaluated with measurements of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), pulmonary capillary pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), cardiac output (Qc), and pulmonary vascular distensibility (alpha) mathematically determined from the curvilinearity of the multi-point mPAP/Qc relation. RESULTS EIH athletes exhibited a lower exercise-induced PVR decrease compared with the untrained and NEIH groups (P < .001). EIH athletes showed higher maximal mPAP compared with NEIH athletes (45.4 ± 0.9 mm Hg vs 41.6 ± 0.9 mm Hg, respectively; P = .003); there was no difference between the NEIH and untrained subjects. Alpha was lower in the EIH group compared with the NEIH group (P < .05). Maximal mPAP, Pcap, and alpha were correlated with the fall of Spo2 during exercise (P < .01, P < .01, and P < .05). Dlno and Dlco increased with exercise in all groups, with no differences between groups. Dlno/Qc was correlated to the exercise-induced Spo2 changes (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS EIH athletes exhibit higher maximal pulmonary vascular pressures, lower vascular distensibility, or exercise-induced changes in PVR compared with NEIH subjects, in keeping with pulmonary capillary stress failure or intrapulmonary shunting hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Durand
- Laboratoire Européen Performance, Santé Altitude, EA4604-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Département STAPS, Font-Romeu, France; Catedra de medicina de muntanya I del medi natural I de simulacio clinica, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
| | - Anne-Fleur Gaston
- Laboratoire Européen Performance, Santé Altitude, EA4604-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Département STAPS, Font-Romeu, France; Unité de Physiologie des Exercices et Activités en Conditions Extrêmes, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Marco Vicenzi
- Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Laboratory, Faculty of Motorskill Science, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Milan, Italy
| | - Gael Deboeck
- Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Laboratory, Faculty of Motorskill Science, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Enric Subirats
- Laboratoire Européen Performance, Santé Altitude, EA4604-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Département STAPS, Font-Romeu, France; Catedra de medicina de muntanya I del medi natural I de simulacio clinica, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Vitalie Faoro
- Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Laboratory, Faculty of Motorskill Science, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Pelliccia A, Caselli S, Sharma S, Basso C, Bax JJ, Corrado D, D'Andrea A, D'Ascenzi F, Di Paolo FM, Edvardsen T, Gati S, Galderisi M, Heidbuchel H, Nchimi A, Nieman K, Papadakis M, Pisicchio C, Schmied C, Popescu BA, Habib G, Grobbee D, Lancellotti P. European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) joint position statement: recommendations for the indication and interpretation of cardiovascular imaging in the evaluation of the athlete's heart. Eur Heart J 2019; 39:1949-1969. [PMID: 29029207 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pelliccia
- Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, Largo Piero Gabrielli, 1, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Caselli
- Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, Largo Piero Gabrielli, 1, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Basso
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Jeroen J Bax
- Departmentt of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonello D'Andrea
- Department of Cardiology, Monaldi Hospital, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavio D'Ascenzi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Fernando M Di Paolo
- Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, Largo Piero Gabrielli, 1, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Thor Edvardsen
- Department of Cardiology, Center of Cardiologic Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Maurizio Galderisi
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Jessa Hospital, Hasselt University and Heart Center Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Koen Nieman
- Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Cataldo Pisicchio
- Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, Largo Piero Gabrielli, 1, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Bogdan A Popescu
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gilbert Habib
- Department of Cardiology, Hôpital La Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Diederick Grobbee
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Patrizio Lancellotti
- Department of Cardiology, GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liège Hospital, Valvular Disease Clinic, Belgium
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Major Z, Kirschner R, Medvegy N, Kiss K, Török GM, Pavlik G, Simonyi G, Komka Z, Medvegy M. The importance of ST elevation in V 2-4 ECG leads in athletes. Physiol Int 2019. [PMID: 31847533 DOI: 10.1556/2060.106.2019.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early repolarization in the anterior ECG leads (ERV2-4) is considered to be a sign of right ventricular (RV) remodeling, but its etiology and importance are unclear. METHODS A total of 243 top-level endurance-trained athletes (ETA; 183 men and 60 women, weekly training hours: 15-20) and 120 leisure-time athletes (LTA; 71 men and 49 women, weekly training hours: 5-6) were investigated. The ERV2-4 sign was evaluated concerning type of sport, gender, transthoracic echocardiographic parameters, and ECG changes, which can indicate elevated RV systolic pressure [left atrium enlargement (LAE), right atrium enlargement (RAE), RV conduction defect (RVcd)]. RESULTS Stroke volume and left ventricular mass were higher in ETAs vs. LTAs in both genders (p < 0.01). Prevalence of the ERV2-4 sign was significantly higher in men than in women [p = 0.000, odds ratio (OR) = 36.4] and in ETAs than in LTAs (p = 0.000). The highest ERV2-4 prevalence appeared in the most highly trained triathlonists and canoe and kayak paddlers (OR = 13.8 and 5.2, respectively). Within the ETA group, the post-exercise LAE, RAE, and RVcd changes developed more frequently in cases with than without ERV2-4 (LAE: men: p < 0.05, females: p < 0.005; RAE: men: p < 0.05, females: p < 0.005; RVcd: N.S.). These post-exercise appearing LAE, RAE, and RVcd are associated with the ERV2-4 sign (OR = 4.0, 3.7, and 3.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS According to these results, ERV2-4 develops mainly in male ETAs due to long-lasting and repeated endurance training. The ERV2-4 sign indicates RV's adaptation to maintain higher compensatory pulmonary pressure and flow during exercise but its danger regarding malignant arrhythmias is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zs Major
- Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Nyíregyháza, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
| | - R Kirschner
- Department of Cardiology, Flór Ferenc Hospital of Pest County, Kistarcsa, Hungary
| | - N Medvegy
- Department of Marketing, KRKA Hungary Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - K Kiss
- Department of Cardiology, Flór Ferenc Hospital of Pest County, Kistarcsa, Hungary
| | - G M Török
- Department of Cardiology, Flór Ferenc Hospital of Pest County, Kistarcsa, Hungary
| | - G Pavlik
- Department of Health Sciences and Sports Medicine, University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary
| | - G Simonyi
- Metabolic Center, St. Imre University Teaching Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zs Komka
- The Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - M Medvegy
- Department of Cardiology, Flór Ferenc Hospital of Pest County, Kistarcsa, Hungary
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D'Ascenzi F, Solari M, Corrado D, Zorzi A, Mondillo S. Diagnostic Differentiation Between Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy and Athlete's Heart by Using Imaging. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019; 11:1327-1339. [PMID: 30190032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an important cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in youth and athletes. In the last decade, several studies focused on right ventricular (RV) remodeling in athletes and revealed that features of the physiological adaptation of the right heart to training, such as RV dilation, may overlap with those of ARVC. Therefore, a careful multiparametric evaluation is required for differential diagnosis in order to avoid false diagnosis of ARVC or, in contrast, fail to identify the risk of causing SCD. This review summarizes physiological adaptation of the RV to exercise and describes features that could help distinguishing between athlete's heart and ARVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio D'Ascenzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Division of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Marco Solari
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Division of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences, Division of Cardiology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zorzi
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences, Division of Cardiology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sergio Mondillo
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Division of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Munro JC, Physick-Sheard PW, Pyle WG, Schenkel FS, Miller SP, Montanholi YR. Cardiac function and feed efficiency: Increased right-heart workload in feed inefficient beef cattle. Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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37
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Konieczny K, Banks L, Osman W, Glibbery M, Connelly KA, Yan AT, Goodman JM, Dorian P. Prolonged P wave duration is associated with right atrial dimensions, but not atrial arrhythmias, in middle-aged endurance athletes. J Electrocardiol 2019; 56:115-120. [PMID: 31394411 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial arrhythmias occur at a higher than expected prevalence amongst endurance athletes. Few studies have examined both atrial structure and arrhythmias in middle-aged endurance athletes. We examined the relationship between P-wave duration, atrial dimensions, and the presence of atrial ectopy in long-standing, middle-aged endurance athletes. METHODS Middle-aged athletes with a minimum of 10 years of competitive endurance sport history and no history of structural heart disease or clinical atrial arrhythmias, had 12-lead ECGs to assess P-wave duration, signal-averaged ECGs (SAECG) to assess filtered P-wave duration, a 24 h Holter monitor to assess atrial ectopy, and echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess atrial structural characteristics. RESULTS Amongst endurance athletes (n = 104; mean age = 54 ± 5 years; 63% male), filtered P-wave duration on SAECG was correlated with P-wave duration on 12-lead ECG (r = 0.36, p, 0.0001), as well as with larger CMR-derived RA areas (r = 0.30, p = 0.01) and volumes (r = 0.24, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between filtered P-wave duration and any LA measures on imaging (p > 0.05). There was no correlation between the incidence of atrial ectopy (premature atrial contractions or atrial tachycardia) and any electrocardiographic or structural measures. CONCLUSION Longer filtered P-wave duration was associated with larger RA areas and volumes, without an increase in atrial ectopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Konieczny
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - L Banks
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - W Osman
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Glibbery
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - K A Connelly
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - A T Yan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J M Goodman
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - P Dorian
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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38
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Małek ŁA, Barczuk-Falęcka M, Werys K, Czajkowska A, Mróz A, Witek K, Burrage M, Bakalarski W, Nowicki D, Roik D, Brzewski M. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance with parametric mapping in long-term ultra-marathon runners. Eur J Radiol 2019; 117:89-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Dawkins TG, Shave RE, Baggish AL, Drane AL, Parisi EJ, Roberts MG, Roberts JD. Electrocardiographic changes following six months of long-distance triathlon training in previously recreationally active individuals. Eur J Sport Sci 2019; 20:553-562. [DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1641556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tony G. Dawkins
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Rob E. Shave
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Aaron L. Baggish
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aimee L. Drane
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Erika J. Parisi
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael G. Roberts
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Justin D. Roberts
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
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40
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Cantinotti M, Koestenberger M, Santoro G, Assanta N, Franchi E, Paterni M, Iervasi G, D'Andrea A, D'Ascenzi F, Giordano R, Galderisi M. Normal basic 2D echocardiographic values to screen and follow up the athlete's heart from juniors to adults: What is known and what is missing. A critical review. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019; 27:1294-1306. [PMID: 31266355 DOI: 10.1177/2047487319862060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In the last few years, multiple echocardiographic nomograms have been published. However, normal values calculated in the general population are not applicable to athletes, whose hearts may be enlarged and hypercontractile. Accordingly, athletes require specific nomograms. Our aim is to provide a critical review of echocardiographic nomograms on two-dimensional (2D) measures for athletes. We performed a systematic search in the National Library of Medicine for Medical Subject Headings and free text terms including echocardiography, athletes, normal values and nomograms. The search was refined by adding the keywords heart, sport, elite, master, children and young. Twenty-eight studies were selected for the final analysis. Our research revealed that currently available ranges of normality for athletes reported by different authors are quite consistent, with limited exceptions (e.g. atria, aorta). Numerical and methodological limitations, however, emerged. Numerical limitations included a limited sample size (e.g. < 450 subjects) of the population assessed and the paucity of data in women, non-Caucasian athletes, and junior and master athletes. Some data on M-mode measurements are available, while those for some specific structures (e.g. left atrial (LA) area and volumes, right ventricular diameters and aorta) are limited or rare (e.g. LA area). There was heterogeneity in data normalization (by gender, sport type and ethnicity) and their expression was limited to mean values (Z-scores have rarely been employed), while variability analysis was often lacking or incomplete. We conclude that comprehensive nomograms using an appropriate sample size, evaluating a complete dataset of 2D (and three-dimensional) measures and built using a rigorous statistical approach are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Cantinotti
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.,Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martin Koestenberger
- Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, Medical University Graz, Austria.,European Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease Network, Berlin, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Santoro
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy
| | - Nadia Assanta
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy
| | - Eliana Franchi
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonello D'Andrea
- Division of Cardiology, Umberto I' Hospital Nocera Inferiore (Salerno), Luigi Vanvitelli University, Caserta, Italy
| | - Flavio D'Ascenzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Division of Cardiology, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Raffaele Giordano
- Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
| | - Maurizio Galderisi
- Cardiology, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
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41
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Forsythe L, Somauroo J, George K, Papadakis M, Brown B, Qasem M, Oxborough D. The right heart of the elite senior rugby football league athlete. Echocardiography 2019; 36:888-896. [DOI: 10.1111/echo.14330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lynsey Forsythe
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
| | - John Somauroo
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
| | - Keith George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research CentreSt Georges University of London London UK
| | - Benjamin Brown
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
| | - Mohammad Qasem
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
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42
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Cuspidi C, Sala C, Tadic M, Baccanelli G, Gherbesi E, Grassi G, Mancia G. Left atrial volume in elite athletes: A meta-analysis of echocardiographic studies. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2019; 29:922-932. [PMID: 30866082 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM Information on left atrium (LA) enlargement, as assessed by LA volume (LAV) instead of LA diameter, in the athletic population is scanty. To expand current knowledge on this issue, we performed an updated meta-analysis of echocardiographic studies. DESIGN The Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for English language articles without time restriction up to February 2018 through focused, high sensitive search strategies. Studies were identified by crossing the following search terms: "athletes," "physical training," "left atrial size," "left atrial volume," "atrial function," and "echocardiography.". RESULTS Overall, 3145 subjects (2425 elite athletes and 720 active but not trained healthy controls) were included in 16 studies. Average LAV indexed to BSA (LAVI) was 37% higher in athletes as compared to nonathletic controls (31.0 ± 1.4 mL/m2 vs 22.2 ± 0.9 mL/m2 ), the standard means difference (SMD) being 1.12 ± 0.13 (CI: 0.86-1.89, P < 0.0001). SMD was higher in high-dynamic/high-static trained athletes (1.78 ± 0.24, CI: 1.30-2.20, P < 0.001) than in high-dynamic/low-static trained athletes 1.00 ± 0.16, CI: 0.70-1.30, P < 0.001). The statistical difference did not change after correction for publication bias and was not affected by a single study effect. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis suggests that the adaptation of LA to intensive physical training in elite athletes is characterized by a marked increase in LAVI; LA dilation is more pronounced in the subgroup of high-dynamic/high-static trained athletes. The functional and clinical implications related to advanced LA dilation in athletes and particularly in those engaged in high-dynamic/high-static disciplines deserve further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Cuspidi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.,Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Carla Sala
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano and Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS Policlinico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marijana Tadic
- Department of Cardiology, Charité-University-Medicine Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Giovanni Baccanelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Gherbesi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano and Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS Policlinico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Guido Grassi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.,IRCCS Multimedica, Sesto San Giovanni, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancia
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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43
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Lazic JS, Tadic M, Antic M, Radovanovic D, Nesic D, Rakocevic R, Mazic S. The relationship between right heart and aerobic capacity in large cohort of young elite athletes. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019; 35:1027-1036. [DOI: 10.1007/s10554-019-01575-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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44
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Abstract
Distinguishing between adaptive and maladaptive cardiovascular response to exercise is crucial to prevent the unnecessary termination of an athlete's career and to minimize the risk of sudden death. This is a challenging task essentially due to the substantial phenotypic overlap between electrical and structural changes seen in the physiological athletic heart remodeling and pathological changes seen in inherited or acquired cardiomyopathies. Stress testing is an ideal tool to discriminate normal from abnormal cardiovascular response by unmasking subtle pathologic responses otherwise undetectable at rest. Treadmill or bicycle electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing are common clinical investigations used in sports cardiology, specifically among participants presenting with resting electrocardiographic abnormalities, frequent premature ventricular beats, or non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias. In this setting, as well as in cases of left ventricular hypertrophy or asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, stress imaging and myocardial tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance show promise. In this review, we aimed to reappraise current diagnostic schemes, screening strategies and novel approaches that may be used to distinguish adaptive remodeling patterns to physical exercise from early phenotypes of inherited or acquired pathological conditions commanding prompt intervention.
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45
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Paterick ZR, Paterick TE. Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening of Student-Athletes with Echocardiography: Ethical, Clinical, Economic, and Legal Considerations. Curr Cardiol Rep 2019; 21:16. [PMID: 30820677 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-019-1101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To identify whether the use of echocardiography is a viable approach for the screening of athletes for the prevention of sudden cardiac death when considering ethical, clinical, economic, and legal issues. RECENT FINDINGS Ethical musings, echocardiographic findings, economic calculations, and legal analysis suggest that echocardiographic screening may reduce sudden cardiac death on the athletic field. Ethical, clinical, economic, and legal considerations suggest echocardiographic screening is a viable option to meet the societal goal to prevent athletic field sudden death.
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46
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Oates SA, Forsythe L, Somauroo JD, George KP, Papadakis M, Oxborough D. Scaling to produce size-independent indices of echocardiographic derived aortic root dimensions in elite Rugby Football League players. ULTRASOUND : JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ULTRASOUND SOCIETY 2019; 27:94-100. [PMID: 31037093 DOI: 10.1177/1742271x18818607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of aortic root dimensions is important in cardiac pre-participation screening. Scaling of cardiac dimensions removes the impact of body size allowing meaningful inter/intra group comparisons. Developing appropriate scaling approaches, scaling variables and extending the application to major vessels is warranted so underlying pathology can be detected and managed appropriately. The study aims to define relationships between aortic root dimensions and body surface area/height. Two hundred and twenty elite Rugby Football League athletes were recruited. All participants completed anthropometric assessments, a 12-lead ECG and echocardiogram. Aortic root was measured at the aortic annulus, sinus of valsalva, sinotubular junction and the proximal ascending aorta. Linear and allometric scaling were performed on the relationship between aortic measurements and body surface area/height. Absolute aortic root measurements fell within normal population data (mean ± standard deviation (range): aortic annulus: 22 ± 2 (17-28) mm, sinus of valsalva: 28 ± 3 (20-38) mm, sinotubular junction: 22 ± 3 (14-33) mm, proximal ascending aorta: 22 ± 3 (15-31) mm). Linear scaling to height produced size-independent indices at all aortic measurement sites (P < 0.05). Conversely, linear scaling using body surface area did not produce size-independent indices at any site (P > 0.05). Allometric scaling, using both body surface area and height, produced size-independent indices at all sites (P < 0.05). We recommend linearly scaling aortic root dimensions to height in elite Rugby Football League athletes and discourage the use of body surface area as a linear scaling quantity. Allometric scaling is also effective when using both body surface area and height.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon A Oates
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Lynsey Forsythe
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - John D Somauroo
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Keith P George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St Georges, University of London, London, UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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47
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Radmilovic J, D'Andrea A, D'Amato A, Tagliamonte E, Sperlongano S, Riegler L, Scarafile R, Forni A, Muscogiuri G, Pontone G, Galderisi M, Russo MG. Echocardiography in Athletes in Primary Prevention of Sudden Death. J Cardiovasc Echogr 2019; 29:139-148. [PMID: 32089993 PMCID: PMC7011488 DOI: 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_26_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Echocardiography is a noninvasive imaging technique useful to provide clinical data regarding physiological adaptations of athlete's heart. Echocardiographic characteristics may be helpful for the clinicians to identify structural cardiac disease, responsible of sudden death during sport activities. The application of echocardiography in preparticipation screening might be essential: it shows high sensitivity and specificity for identification of structural cardiac disease and it is the first-line imagining technique for primary prevention of SCD in athletes. Moreover, new echocardiographic techniques distinguish extreme sport cardiac remodeling from beginning state of cardiomyopathy, as hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle dysplasia. The aim of this paper is to review the scientific literature and the clinical knowledge about athlete's heart and main structural heart disease and to describe the rule of echocardiography in primary prevention of SCD in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juri Radmilovic
- Department of Cardiology, Umberto I, Nocera Inferiore, Italy.,Department of Cardiology, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonello D'Andrea
- Department of Cardiology, Umberto I, Nocera Inferiore, Italy.,Department of Cardiology, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea D'Amato
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Simona Sperlongano
- Department of Cardiology, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Riegler
- Department of Cardiology, Umberto I, Nocera Inferiore, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Forni
- Department of Cardiology, Umberto I, Nocera Inferiore, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Pontone
- Department of Radiology, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Galderisi
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Russo
- Department of Cardiology, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
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48
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Grünig E, Eichstaedt C, Barberà JA, Benjamin N, Blanco I, Bossone E, Cittadini A, Coghlan G, Corris P, D'Alto M, D'Andrea A, Delcroix M, de Man F, Gaine S, Ghio S, Gibbs S, Gumbiene L, Howard LS, Johnson M, Jurevičienė E, Kiely DG, Kovacs G, MacKenzie A, Marra AM, McCaffrey N, McCaughey P, Naeije R, Olschewski H, Pepke-Zaba J, Reis A, Santos M, Saxer S, Tulloh RM, Ulrich S, Vonk Noordegraaf A, Peacock AJ. ERS statement on exercise training and rehabilitation in patients with severe chronic pulmonary hypertension. Eur Respir J 2018; 53:13993003.00332-2018. [DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00332-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Objectives of this European Respiratory Society task force were to summarise current studies, to develop strategies for future research and to increase availability and awareness of exercise training for pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients.An evidence-based approach with clinical expertise of the task force members, based on both literature search and face-to-face meetings was conducted. The statement summarises current knowledge and open questions regarding clinical effects of exercise training in PH, training modalities, implementation strategies and pathophysiological mechanisms.In studies (784 PH patients in total, including six randomised controlled trials, three controlled trials, 10 prospective cohort studies and four meta-analyses), exercise training has been shown to improve exercise capacity, muscular function, quality of life and possibly right ventricular function and pulmonary haemodynamics. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm these data, to investigate the impact on risk profiles and to identify the most advantageous training methodology and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.As exercise training appears to be effective, cost-efficient and safe, but is scarcely reimbursed, support from healthcare institutions, commissioners of healthcare and research funding institutions is greatly needed. There is a strong need to establish specialised rehabilitation programmes for PH patients to enhance patient access to this treatment intervention.
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49
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Krumm P, Krauß S, Mangold S, Zitzelsberger T, Klumpp BD, Nikolaou K, Nieß AM, Kramer U, Burgstahler C. Mid-term development of the right ventricle in competitive athletes. Acta Radiol 2018; 59:1422-1430. [PMID: 29566549 DOI: 10.1177/0284185118764203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term intensive training induces physiological, morphological, and functional adaption of the athlete's heart. PURPOSE To evaluate the development of athlete's heart during a mid-term follow-up of competitive athletes using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighteen competitive long-distance runners and triathletes (age 43 ± 13 years, 3 women) were prospectively examined in a longitudinal follow-up study 5.05 ± 0.6 years after baseline. CMR at 1.5-T was performed for functional and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume (LVEDV, RVEDV) as well as ejection fraction (LVEF, RVEF), LV myocardial mass (LVMM), and atrial sizes were determined and compared to baseline in matched pairs statistics for paired difference. RESULTS LVEDV (197 ± 38 mL vs. 196 ± 38 mL, paired difference -0.9 mL, P = 0.7) and LVEF (62 ± 7% vs. 62 ± 5%, paired difference 0.1%, P = 0.9) did not change during the follow-up period, whereas LVMM increased significantly (149 ± 31 g vs.164 ± 32 g, paired difference 14 g, P < 0.0001). RVEDV significantly increased from 221 ± 47 mL at baseline to 230 ± 52 mL (paired difference 10 mL, P = 0.0033). RVEF decreased from baseline 57 ± 8% to 53 ± 7% (paired difference -3%, P = 0.0234). Left atrial size showed no significant changes (24 ± 5 cm2 vs. 25 ± 6 cm2, paired difference 0.5 cm2, P = 0.17) and right atrial size increased significantly (30 ± 5 cm2 vs. 32 ± 4 cm2, paired difference 2 cm2, P = 0.0054). CONCLUSION This study supports the theory of ongoing remodeling in an athlete's heart. Predominantly the right heart can further enlarge in a mid-term period. This response seems not linearly dependent on a steady, decreased, or increased training volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Krumm
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Krauß
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Sports Medicine, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Mangold
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tanja Zitzelsberger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernhard D Klumpp
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Radiology, Rems-Murr-Clinic, Winnenden, Germany
| | - Konstantin Nikolaou
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas M Nieß
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Sports Medicine, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kramer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Radiology, Rems-Murr-Clinic, Winnenden, Germany
| | - Christof Burgstahler
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Sports Medicine, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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50
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Popple E, George K, Somauroo J, Sharma S, Utomi V, Lord R, Cooper R, Malhotra A, Forster J, Oxborough D. Right ventricular structure and function in senior and academy elite footballers. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2018; 28:2617-2624. [DOI: 10.1111/sms.13272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Popple
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
| | - Keith George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
| | - John Somauroo
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
- Countess of Chester Hospital; NHS Trust; Chester UK
| | | | - Victor Utomi
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
| | | | - Robert Cooper
- Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Liverpool UK
| | | | - Jan Forster
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Leeds UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
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