Key result
Female athletic training is linked to ~6% larger sinus of Valsalva diameter versus non-athletes.
Why the study?
Aortic rupture is a potential cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes, but adaptation strategies for aortic root dilation vary.
Does athletic training increase aortic root diameter and left ventricle size in young adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=151)
No
Does athletic training increase aortic root diameter and left ventricle size in young adults?
Absolute Event Rate: 28.9% vs 27.19%
p-value: p=0.03
Athletic training, particularly strength sports in females, is associated with increased aortic root diameter which positively correlates with left ventricular remodeling.
May support training-related aortic enlargement in female athletes; leaves open causality and need for adjusted norms.
Background and objectives: Aortic rupture is known as one of the potential causes of sudden cardiac death in athletes. Nevertheless, adaptation strategies for aortic root dilation in athletes vary. The purpose of this study was to investigate aortic root adaptation to physical workload and to determine if aortic roots and left ventricle sizes are contingent upon the physical workload. Materials and Methods: Echocardiography was applied to 151 subjects to measure the aortic root at aortic valve annulus (AA) and at sinus of Valsalva (VS). 122 were athletes (41 females and 81 males) and 29 were non-athletes (14 females and 15 males). Of the 41 female athletes, 32 were endurance athletes, and 9 were strength athletes. From 81 male athletes, 56 were endurance athletes, and 25 were strength athletes. AA and VS mean values for the body surface area were presented as AA relative index with body surface area (rAA) and VS relative index with body surface area (rVS). Left ventricle (LV) measures included LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septum thickness in diastole (IVSTd), LV posterior wall thickness in diastole (LVPWTd), LV mass (LVM), LV mass index, and LV end-diastolic diameter index (LVEDDI). Results: Results indicated that VS was higher in female athletes (28.9 ± 2.36 mm) than in non-athletes (27.19 ± 2.87 mm, p = 0.03). On the other hand, rAA was higher in strength athletes (12.19 ± 1.48 mm/m2) than in endurance athletes (11.12 ± 0.99 mm/m2, p = 0.04). Additionally, rVS and rAA were higher in female strength athletes (17.19 ± 1.78 mm/m2, 12.19 ± 1.48 mm/m2) than female basketball players (15.49 ± 1.08 mm/m2, p = 0.03, 10.75 ± 1.06 mm/m2, p = 0.02). No significant differences regarding aortic root were found between male athletes and non-athletes. Statistically significant positive moderate correlations were found between VS and LVEDD, LVM, IVSTd, LVPWTd, rVS, and LVEDDI parameters in all athletes. Conclusion: The diameter of Valsalva sinus was greater in female athletes compared to non-athletes. The rAA mean value for body surface area was greater in female athletes practising strength sports as compared to their counterparts who were practising endurance sports. The diameter of the aortic root at sinuses positively correlated with the LV size in all athletes.
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Žumbakytė-Šermukšnienė et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Athlete's heart (n=151). Athletic training vs. Non-athletes was evaluated on Sinus of Valsalva (VS) diameter in females (p=0.03). Female athletes had a significantly larger sinus of Valsalva diameter compared to non-athletes (28.9 vs 27.19 mm, p=0.03), and aortic root diameter positively correlated with left ventricle size across all athletes.
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