Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Function in Wrestlers: A Focus on Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Objective: Athlete’s heart is related with physiological adaptation as a result of recurrent cardiac overloading. However, these exercise-induced changes can be confused with pathological conditions and it can be difficult to differentiate with traditional echocardiographic parameters. Recently, speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has provided new perspectives in differentiating athlete's heart from pathological heart disease. In specific sports such as wrestling, there is not enough data on this method. The aim of study was to evaluate myocardial function of wrestlers using 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography imaging. Material and Methods: 23 healthy individuals and 20 wrestlers were included in the study. Ventricular strain values were evaluated by apical 2,3 and 4 chamber imaging. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was calculated by averaging three apical views. Results: Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal two, three and four chamber strain and LV GLS were slightly lower but not statistically significant in the wrestlers [-17.9(16.4-19.5)] compared with control group [-19.1(16.2-20.7)], (p=0.084, p=0.603, p=0.119, p=0.228, respectively]. There was not any difference regarding the left ventricle ejection fraction (p=0.455). E wave, A wave, e’wave, E/A and E/e’ ratio were similar between groups (p=0.210, p=0.826, p=0.505, p=0.468, p=0.451, respectively). GLS showed significant correlation with e’wave (r=0.561, p<0.001). Conclusion:LV myocardial deformation evaluated by GLS was slightly lower but similar in the wrestlers compared to the healty individuals. It may be useful to clinicians in evaluating athelet’s heart in addition to conventional echocardiographic parameters.