Cardiac and metabolic characteristics in long distance runners of sport and exercise cardiology outpatient facility of a tertiary hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize electrocardiographic and functional cardiac parameters and cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in long-distance Brazilian runners monitored at the Sport and Exercise Cardiology Outpatient Facility of a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Of an initial population of 443 male and female athletes of different sport modalities, we assessed 162 (37%) long-distance male runners, aged from 14 to 67. Electrocardiographic (12 leads) and echocardiographic (M-mode and two-dimensional) parameters were recorded at rest. Cardiopulmonary responses were evaluated on a treadmill with a ramp protocol.


RESULTS
Metabolic alterations and cardiovascular diseases were diagnosed in 17% and 9% of the runners, respectively. Sinus bradycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy were observed in 62% and 33% of the runners, respectively. Structural alterations such as ventricular cavity > or = 55 mm, relative wall thickness > or = 0.44, and ventricular mass index > or = 134 g/m2 were found in 15%, 11% and 7% of the runners, respectively. Ejection fraction < 55% was observed in 4% of the runners. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) decreased as of the age of 41, although the anaerobic threshold relative to the VO2peak remained unchanged with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Resting bradycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy are the most frequent cardiovascular adaptations in Brazilian long distance runners monitored by the Sport and Exercise Cardiology Outpatient Facility. Although VO2peak decreases after the age of 41, the relative oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold of these runners remained unchanged.
Azevedo
Luciene Ferreira
LF
Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, FM, USP and Escola de Educação Física e Esporte da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. expluciene@incor.usp.br
Brum
Patrícia Chakur
PC
Rosemblatt
Dudley
D
Perlingeiro
Patrícia de Sá
Pde S
Barretto
Antônio Carlos Pereira
AC
Negrão
Carlos Eduardo
CE
de Matos
Luciana Diniz Nagem Janot
LD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013318:Stroke Volume