Ethnic differences in physiological cardiac adaptation to intense physical exercise in highly trained female athletes.
BACKGROUND
Ethnicity is an important determinant of cardiovascular adaptation in athletes. Studies in black male athletes reveal a higher prevalence of electric repolarization and left ventricular hypertrophy than observed in white males; these frequently overlap with those observed in cardiomyopathy and have important implications in the preparticipation cardiac screening era. There are no reports on cardiac adaptation in highly trained black females, who comprise an increasing population of elite competitors.


RESULTS
Between 2004 and 2009, 240 nationally ranked black female athletes (mean age 21+/-4.6 years old) underwent 12-lead ECG and 2-dimensional echocardiography. The results were compared with 200 white female athletes of similar age and size participating in similar sports. Black athletes demonstrated greater left ventricular wall thickness (9.2+/-1.2 versus 8.6+/-1.2 mm, P<0.001) and left ventricular mass (187.2+/-42 versus 172.3+/-42 g, P=0.008) than white athletes. Eight black athletes (3%) exhibited a left ventricular wall thickness >11 mm (12 to 13 mm) compared with none of the white athletes. All athletes revealed normal indices of systolic and diastolic function. Black athletes exhibited a higher prevalence of T-wave inversions (14% versus 2%, P<0.001) and ST-segment elevation (11% versus 1%, P<0.001) than white athletes. Deep T-wave inversions (-0.2 mV) were observed only in black athletes and were confined to the anterior leads (V(1) through V(3)).


CONCLUSIONS
Systematic physical exercise in black female athletes is associated with greater left ventricular hypertrophy and higher prevalence of repolarization changes than in white female athletes of similar age and size participating in identical sporting disciplines. However, a maximal left ventricular wall thickness >13 mm or deep T-wave inversions in the inferior and lateral leads are rare and warrant further investigation.
Rawlins
J
J
King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Carre
F
F
Kervio
G
G
Papadakis
M
M
Chandra
N
N
Edwards
C
C
Whyte
G P
GP
Sharma
S
S
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D056352:Athletes; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001830:Body Surface Area; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*