Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander rugby players demonstrated significantly greater left ventricular mass (42 vs 37 g/m^2.7) and wall thickness compared to matched Caucasian controls.
Cross-Sectional (n=42)
No
Elite Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander rugby athletes exhibit greater left and right ventricular wall thickness and mass with altered mechanics compared to Caucasian athletes, highlighting the need for ethnicity-specific criteria in sports cardiology screening.
Absolute Event Rate: 42% vs 37%
p-value: p=0.017
The aim of this exploratory study was to define the Athletes Heart (AH) phenotype in Native Hawaiian and basal, mid and global radial and circumferential ε and SR. Basal and apical rotation and twist were also assessed. Results were compared with age-matched Caucasian counterparts (CC; n = 21). LV mass 42 ± 9 versus 37 ± 4 g/(m2.7), mean LV wall thickness (MWT: 9.5 ± 0.7 and 8.7 ± 0.4 mm), relative wall thickness (RWT: 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.31 ± 0.03) and RV wall thickness (5 ± 1 and 4 ± 1 mm, all p < 0.05) were greater in NH&PI compared with CC. LV and RV cavity dimensions and standard indices of LV and RV systolic and diastolic function were similar between groups. NH&PI demonstrated reduced peak LV mid circumferential ε and early diastolic SR, as well as reduced global radial ε. There was reduced basal rotation at 25–35% systole, reduced apical rotation at 25–40% and 60–100% systole and reduced twist at 85–95% systole in NH&PI athletes. There were no differences between the two groups in RV wall mechanics. When compared to Caucasian controls, NH&PI rugby players have a greater LV mass, MWT and RWT with concomitant reductions in circumferential and twist mechanics. This data acts to prompt further research in NH&PI athletes.
Johnson et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy elite athletes (Athletes Heart) (n=42). Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ethnicity vs. Caucasian ethnicity was evaluated on Left ventricular mass [g/(m^2)^2.7] (p=0.017). Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander rugby players demonstrated significantly greater left ventricular mass (42 vs 37 g/m^2.7) and wall thickness compared to matched Caucasian controls.