Elite sailors commonly exhibit sinus bradycardia (29%) and early repolarization (21%); about 20% present with left ventricular dilation, 22% of males have right ventricular dilation, and pumping group sailors show a 4% lower ejection fraction and 2% higher global longitudinal strain compared to other groups.
Observational (n=70)
No
Does elite sailing training induce specific electrical and structural cardiac adaptations in male and female athletes?
Elite sailing is associated with significant electrical and structural cardiac adaptations, including biventricular dilation, which must be recognized during pre-participation screening to avoid misdiagnosis.
Background: Structural and functional adaptation of the heart to chronic exercise is dependent on multiple factors, including the volume and type of training, and has direct implications for pre-participation cardiac screening (PPCS). Sailing is a unique multi-training modality sport with limited prior description of cardiac adaptation to training. The aims of this study are (1) to describe electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in sailors, informing PPCS guidelines; (2) to assess structural and functional cardiac changes in sailors; and (3) to examine sex- or discipline-specific cardiac adaptations in sailors. Methods: Seventy elite sailors (33 females) underwent standard ECG and echocardiography. Echocardiographic data were compared to population norms and analysed by sex and sailing discipline based on training type: isometric (IG), pumping (PG), and movement (MG). Results: One sailor presented with abnormal ECG findings (T wave inversion) which warranted further investigation. Primary training-related ECG changes noted were early repolarisation (24%) and sinus bradycardia (30%). The left ventricular volume index was dilated in 18% of all sailors compared to reference values, with similar findings noted on right ventricular parameters for 22% of the study population, although in males only. The impact of predominant training stimulus (IG, PG, MG) did not mediate differences in the structure of any cardiac chambers (p > 0.05). Ejection fraction was lower in the PG (Δ4%, p ≤ 0.001), whereas global longitudinal strain was higher (Δ2%, p = 0.02) compared to MG and IG. Conclusions: Elite-level sailors present with electrical and structural cardiac phenotypes associated with exercise adaptation, with dilation of both left- and right-sided chambers. These data should be considered when interpreting results of PPCS in male and female sailors from different, specific disciplines.
Maxwell et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Elite sailors (male and female, all Caucasian) undergoing pre-participation cardiac screening (n=70). N/A (Observational study of cardiac phenotypes) vs. Comparison among sailing disciplines: Isometric group (IG), Pumping group (PG), Movement group (MG) was evaluated on Prevalence and characterization of cardiac structural and electrical adaptations in elite sailors assessed by 12-lead ECG and echocardiography. Elite sailors commonly exhibit sinus bradycardia (29%) and early repolarization (21%); about 20% present with left ventricular dilation, 22% of males have right ventricular dilation, and pumping group sailors show a 4% lower ejection fraction and 2% higher global longitudinal strain compared to other groups.