Myocardial deformation and volume of exercise: a new overlap between pathology and athlete ’s heart?

AbstractRegular physical exercise induces cardiac adaptations that can overlap pathological conditions. Controversy still persists about the variability of myocardial deformation in different types and intensity of exercise. The aim of this study was to assess myocardial longitudinal deformation in athletes with different level of exercise. Two groups of young athletes involved in endurance sports characterized by high intensity dynamic component were enrolled. According to the level and the number of exercise training hours/week, two groups were defined:Group 1—high level (national/international and ≥ 20 training-hours/week; N = 60);Group 2—low level (recreational/regional and<  10 training-hours/week; N = 48). A comprehensive transthoracic echocardiogram including evaluation of global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by 2D speckle-tracking was performed. Athletes in Group 1 showed more pronounced cardiac remodeling and enhanced diastolic function. No significant d ifferences were evident in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) between groups. Overall, GLS (absolute values) was 18.0 ± 2.5%, but significantly lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (17.3 ± 2.6% vs. 18.9 ± 2.1%; p = 0.001). Thirty-three (31%) athletes had GLS below 17%, more f requently in Group 1 (79% vs. 45%; p = 0.001), with higher LV and left atrium volumes, lowerE wave andA wave peak velocities andE/e′ ratio. In a multivariate analysis to belong to Group 1 w...
Source: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research