Training-specific changes in cardiac structure and function: a prospective and longitudinal assessment of competitive athletes.
This prospective, longitudinal study examined the effects of participation in team-based exercise training on cardiac structure and function. Competitive endurance athletes (EA, n = 40) and strength athletes (SA, n = 24) were studied with echocardiography at baseline and after 90 days of team training. Left ventricular (LV) mass increased by 11% in EA (116 +/- 18 vs. 130 +/- 19 g/m(2); P < 0.001) and by 12% in SA (115 +/- 14 vs. 132 +/- 11 g/m(2); P < 0.001; P value for the compared Delta = NS). EA experienced LV dilation (end-diastolic volume: 66.6 +/- 10.0 vs. 74.7 +/- 9.8 ml/m(2), Delta = 8.0 +/- 4.2 ml/m(2); P < 0.001), enhanced diastolic function (lateral E': 10.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 12.4 +/- 0.9 cm/s, P < 0.001), and biatrial enlargement, while SA experience LV hypertrophy (posterior wall: 4.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.5 mm/m(2), P < 0.001) and diminished diastolic function (E' basal lateral LV: 11.6 +/- 1.3 vs. 10.2 +/- 1.4 cm/s, P < 0.001). Further, EA experienced right ventricular (RV) dilation (end-diastolic area: 1,460 +/- 220 vs. 1,650 +/- 200 mm/m(2), P < 0.001) coupled with enhanced systolic and diastolic function (E' basal RV: 10.3 +/- 1.5 vs. 11.4 +/- 1.7 cm/s, P < 0.001), while SA had no change in RV parameters. We conclude that participation in 90 days of competitive athletics produces significant training-specific changes in cardiac structure and function. EA develop biventricular dilation with enhanced diastolic function, while SA develop isolated, concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with diminished diastolic relaxation.
Baggish
Aaron L
AL
Div. of Cardiology, Dept. of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yawkey 5, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114, USA. abaggish@partners.org
Wang
Francis
F
Weiner
Rory B
RB
Elinoff
Jason M
JM
Tournoux
Francois
F
Boland
Arthur
A
Picard
Michael H
MH
Hutter
Adolph M
AM
Wood
Malissa J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right