Preadolescent cross-country skiers exhibited greater indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (79 vs. 68 mL/m2, p<0.001) and left ventricular mass (69 vs. 57 g/m2, p<0.001) than controls.
Cross-Sectional (n=101)
Does endurance athletic training induce morphological and functional cardiac changes in preadolescent athletes compared to non-competing controls?
Preadolescent athletes exhibit physiological adaptive cardiac remodeling, characterized by increased biventricular dimensions and LV mass, with preserved LV function but slightly lower RV deformation compared to non-athletes.
Absolute Event Rate: 79% vs 68%
p-value: p=<0.001
Background Athlete’s heart is a term used to describe the morphological and functional changes in the hearts of athletes. Recent studies suggest that these changes may occur even in preadolescent athletes. This study aims to improve our understanding of the changes occurring in the preadolescent athlete’s heart. Design and methods Cardiac morphology and function in 76 preadolescent cross-country skiers (aged 12.1 ± 0.2 years) were compared with 25 age-matched non-competing preadolescents. Echocardiography was performed in all subjects, including 2D speckle-tracking strain echocardiography and 3D echocardiography. All participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess oxygen uptake and exercise capacity. Results Athletes had greater indexed VO 2 max (62 ± 7 vs. 44 ± 5 mL/kg per min, p < 0.001), indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (79 ± 7 vs. 68 ± 7 mL/m 2 , p < 0.001), left ventricular mass (69 ± 12 vs. 57 ± 13 g/m 2 , p < 0.001), indexed right ventricular basal diameter (28.3 ± 3.0 vs. 25.4 ± 3.5 mm/m 2 , p < 0.001) and right atrial area (10.6 ± 1.4 vs. 9.7 ± 1.2 cm 2 /m 2 , p < 0.01). There was no difference in left ventricular ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, and global circumferential strain and right ventricular fractional area change between the groups. Controls had higher right ventricular global longitudinal strain (−28.1 ± 3.5 vs. −31.1 ± 3.3%, p < 0.01). VO 2 max was highly correlated to left ventricular end-diastolic volume ( r = 0.76, p < 0.001). Conclusion Athletes had greater left ventricular mass and greater left and right ventricular chamber dimensions compared with controls, while left ventricular function did not differ. Interestingly, right ventricular deformation was significantly lower compared with controls. This supports the notion that there is physiological, adaptive remodelling in preadolescent athlete’s heart.
Bjerring et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Athlete's heart (n=101). Endurance athletic training (cross-country skiing) vs. Non-competing preadolescents was evaluated on Indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (mL/m2) (p=<0.001). Preadolescent cross-country skiers exhibited greater indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (79 vs. 68 mL/m2, p<0.001) and left ventricular mass (69 vs. 57 g/m2, p<0.001) than controls.