Relationship between Cardiac Remodeling and Exercise Capacity in Elite Athletes: Incremental Value of Left Atrial Morphology and Function Assessed by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

Background Data are scarce regarding left atrial (LA) adaptation to regular physical exercise. The aim of this study was to examine left ventricular (LV) and also LA morphologic and functional remodeling in elite athletes using three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. Methods In this retrospective analysis, the study group consisted of 138 elite athletes (mean age, 20 ± 4 years; 62% men) and 50 sedentary control subjects. Electrocardiographically gated full-volume 3D data sets were obtained for offline analysis using dedicated software for 3D LA and LV measurements. Body surface area–indexed LA maximal volume (LAVmax) and LV end-diastolic volume were determined. LA total emptying fraction, LA passive and LA active emptying fraction, and LV global longitudinal strain were also calculated. Athletes also underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine peak oxygen uptake. Results Athletes demonstrated higher 3D LAVmax (32 ± 6 vs 26 ± 8 mL/m 2 ) and indexed LV end-diastolic volume (85 ± 12 vs 62 ± 10 mL/m 2 ) compared with control subjects ( P < .001 for both). Functional measures of the left ventricle and left atrium, such as the absolute value of 3D LV global longitudinal strain (19 ± 2% vs 22 ± 2%), LA total emptying fraction (58 ± 6% vs 64 ± 6%), and active emptying fraction (24 ± 10% vs 32 ± 10%) were lower in athletes ( P < .001 for all). Male athletes had higher indexed LV end-diastolic volume compared with female athletes (89 ± 13 vs 80 ± 8 mL/m 2 , P < .001), but LAVmax did not differ between genders (32 ± 6 vs 33 ± 5 mL/m 2 , P = .18). Besides heart rate, gender, and body surface area, 3D LAVmax, LV global longitudinal strain, and LA passive emptying fraction were independent predictors of peak oxygen uptake. Conclusions Regular physical exercise results in marked LA and LV remodeling with considerable gender differences as explored by 3D echocardiography. In contrast with various cardiovascular diseases, more pronounced LA dilation and lower resting functional measures are associated with better exercise performance.