High dynamic:high static athletes exhibited significantly larger left and right atrial volumes compared to low dynamic:high static athletes and sedentary controls (P < 0.05), demonstrating bi-atrial hypertrophy.
Cross-Sectional (n=56)
Does participation in high dynamic versus low dynamic sporting disciplines alter atrial structure and function compared to sedentary controls?
Bi-atrial hypertrophy occurs in athletes engaged in high dynamic sports but not low dynamic sports, suggesting the dynamic component of training drives atrial adaptation without altering intrinsic atrial strain.
Absolute Event Rate: 35% vs 23%
p-value: p=< 0.05
AIMS: The aim of this study was to establish the degree of structural and functional adaptations in the left (LA) and right atria (RA) in elite male athletes engaged in 'high dynamic : high static' (HDHS) and 'low dynamic : high static' (LDHS) sporting disciplines compared with sedentary controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighteen male, elite HDHS athletes (13 boxers and 7 triathletes), 18 male, elite LDHS athletes (8 weightlifters and 10 Akido), and 20 male, age-matched sedentary controls were assessed using conventional 2D and myocardial speckle tracking (MST) echocardiography. Absolute LA and RA volumes end systole (VOLes), pre A (VOLpreA), and end diastole (VOLed) as well as the functional indices of reservoir (RESvol), conduit (CONvol), and booster volumes (BOOvol) were defined. MST allowed the assessment of atrial strain (ε) during the reservoir (RESε), conduit (CONε), and booster (BOOε) phases of the cardiac cycle. Both LA and RA sizes were significantly larger in HDHS compared with LDHS and controls (P 1 in all groups due to a comparatively larger RA volume (RAVOLes : LAVOLes 1.05 ± 0.26, 1.12 ± 0.55, and 1.04 ± 0.28 for HDHS, LDHS, and controls, respectively, P > 0.05). There was no significant between group differences for any ε parameter. CONCLUSION: Bi-atrial hypertrophy is demonstrated in HDHS athletes and not in LDHS athletes, suggesting that the dynamic component to training is the primary driver for both LA and RA adaptation. Although functional data derived from volume shifts suggest augmented function in HDHS athletes, MST imaging demonstrated no difference in intrinsic atrial ε in any of the groups.
McClean et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy elite male athletes (n=56). High dynamic:high static (HDHS) training vs. Low dynamic:high static (LDHS) training and sedentary controls was evaluated on Left atrial end-systolic volume (LAVOLes) in ml/m2 (p=< 0.05). High dynamic:high static athletes exhibited significantly larger left and right atrial volumes compared to low dynamic:high static athletes and sedentary controls (P < 0.05), demonstrating bi-atrial hypertrophy.