June 19, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Structural features of the athlete heart as defined by echocardiography
Key result
Long-term athletic training linked to ~45% greater LV mass versus matched controls.
- n=1,000
Why the study?
Does long-term athletic training alter cardiac structure in competitive athletes compared to matched controls?
Population
More than 1,000 competitive athletes and matched control subjects
Comparison
Athletes vs matched control subjects
Design
Review of M-mode echocardiographic studies
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Distinguish modest LV remodeling from pathology on echo in athletes; extends physiologic characterization but leaves long-term outcome data open.
Key Points
- The aim is to clarify morphologic changes in the hearts of trained athletes through echocardiography.
- Conducted M-mode echocardiographic studies on over 1,000 competitive athletes.
- Compared cardiac dimensions and mass with matched control subjects.
- Examined differences in cardiac structure based on athletic training types (dynamic vs. static).
- Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension increased by about 10% in athletes.
- Wall thickness increased by 15-20%, while left ventricular mass increased by approximately 45%.
- Dynamic alterations in left ventricular hypertrophy may reverse within weeks to months after stopping training.
Structured PICO
Does long-term athletic training alter cardiac structure in competitive athletes compared to matched controls?
P
Population
More than 1,000 competitive athletes evaluated via M-mode echocardiography to assess structural cardiac changes associated with training.
E
Exposure
Long-term athletic training (dynamic or static)
C
Comparator
Matched control subjects
O
Outcome
Alterations in cardiac structure (left ventricular mass, end-diastolic dimension, wall thickness)surrogate
Long-term athletic training induces dynamic, reversible, and modest physiologic left ventricular hypertrophy that is not currently linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Limitations
- The long-term significance of increased left ventricular mass in trained athletes has not been conclusively defined.
Cite This Study
Barry J. Maron (1986) conducted a review in Athlete heart (n=1,000). Long-term athletic training vs. Matched control subjects was evaluated on Cardiac dimensions (left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, wall thickness, and calculated left ventricular mass). Long-term athletic training increases left ventricular end-diastolic dimension by ~10%, wall thickness by ~15-20%, and calculated left ventricular mass by ~45% compared with matched controls.