Key result
Olympic endurance training is linked to lower native T1 values, with higher levels in females.
Why the study?
Data on native T1 and T2 mapping values in athletes and the influence of sports disciplines and sex were lacking.
How do sports discipline and sex influence CMR native T1 and T2 mapping values in Olympic athletes compared to sedentary controls?
Cross-Sectional (n=342)
How do sports discipline and sex influence CMR native T1 and T2 mapping values in Olympic athletes compared to sedentary controls?
p-value: p=<0.001
Native T1 mapping values in athletes vary significantly by sports discipline and sex, with endurance athletes and males showing lower values, which is important for interpreting CMR in sports cardiology.
AIMS: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has a growing role in evaluating athletes' hearts. Mapping techniques provide added value for tissue characterization, but data on athletes and sports disciplines are lacking. To describe native mapping values in a cohort of Olympic athletes and evaluate the influence of sports discipline and sex. METHODS AND RESULTS: A group of 300 Olympic athletes (13% skill, 20% power, 25% mixed, 42% endurance, 58% male) with unremarkable cardiovascular screening and a control group of 42 sedentary subjects (52% male) underwent CMR without contrast administration. Athletes were divided based on sex and sports categories according to the ESC classification. Among athletes of different sports categories and controls, endurance presented the lowest value of T1 mapping (P < 0.001). No differences in T2 mapping were observed (P = 0.472). Female athletes had higher values of T1 native myocardial mapping compared with males (P = 0.001), while there were no differences in T2 mapping (P = 0.817). Male athletes with higher left ventricular mass indexed (LV-Massi) had lower values of T1 mapping (P = 0.006) and slightly higher values of T2 mapping, even if not significant (P = 0.150). Female athletes with higher LV-Massi did not show significant differences in T1 and T2 mapping (P = 0.053 and P = 0.438). CONCLUSION: T1 native myocardial mapping showed significant differences related to sports disciplines and gender. Athletes with the largest LV remodelling, mostly endurance and mixed, showed the lowest values of T1 mapping. Male athletes showed lower values of T1 mapping than females. No significant differences were observed in T2 mapping related to sports disciplines and gender.
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Prosperi et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy Olympic athletes (n=342). Sports discipline and sex vs. Sedentary controls and opposite sex was evaluated on Native T1 and T2 mapping values (p=<0.001). Olympic endurance athletes had the lowest native T1 mapping values compared to other sports and controls (P<0.001), and female athletes had higher T1 values than males (P=0.001).
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