Left Atrial Mechanical Functions in Professional Soccer Players: A Pilot Study

Long-term regular exercise is associated with physiologic and morphologic alterations in the heart chambers. The aim of this study to evaluate left atrium (LA) phasic functions in professional football players and compare with control subjects. Left atrial volume was calculated at end-systole (Vmax), end-diastole and pre-atrial contraction by echocardiography in 20 professional male football players (mean age, 20.15+2.11 years) and 20 male control subjects (mean age, 22.3+1.49 years). Echocardiographic assessments were per­formed were performed using the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography. The following LAVs were measured: maximal volume (Vmax), minimal volume (Vmin) and LAV before atrial contraction (VpreA) at the onset of the P wave of the simultaneously recorded ECG. Left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF), expansion index (LAEI), active emptying volume index (LAAEVI) and fraction(LAAEFr), passive emptying volume index (LAPEVI) and fraction (LAPEFr) were calculated. Baseline characteristics, demographics, two dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters were not statistically significant between the groups (Table 1). Both groups were similar in terms of Vmax index but Vmin index and VpreA index were significantly higher in football players. LAEF, LAEI, LAAEVI and LAAEFr were lesser in football player but they were not statistically significant. Also LAPEVI and LAPEFr were similar in both groups (Table 2). Professional football playing can be associated with morphologic alteration in left atrium mechanical functions. Further prospective, randomized, controlled trials with long term follow-up are necessary to make more robust interpretations of this issue.