title: Aortic root dimensions in elite athletes.
abstract: Although cardiac adaptation to different sports has been extensively described, the potential effect of top-level training on the aortic root dimension remains not investigated fully. To explore the full range of aortic root diameters in athletes, 615 elite athletes (370 endurance-trained athletes and 245 strength-trained athletes; 410 men; mean age 28.4 +/- 10.2 years, range 18 to 40) underwent transthoracic echocardiography. The end-diastolic aortic diameters were measured at 4 locations: (1) the aortic annulus, (2) the sinuses of Valsalva, (3) the sinotubular junction, and (4) the maximum diameter of the proximal ascending aorta. Ascending aorta dilation at the sinuses of Valsalva was defined as a diameter greater than the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the overall distribution. The left ventricular (LV) mass index and ejection fraction did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. However, the strength-trained athletes had an increased body surface area, sum of wall thickness (septum plus LV posterior wall), LV circumferential end-systolic stress, and relative wall thickness. In contrast, the left atrial volume index, LV stroke volume, and LV end-diastolic diameter were greater in the endurance-trained athletes. The aortic root diameter at all levels was significantly greater in the strength-trained athletes (p <0.05 for all comparisons). However, ascending aorta dilation was observed in only 6 male power athletes (1%). Mild aortic regurgitation was observed in 21 athletes (3.4%). On multivariate analyses, in the overall population of athletes, the body surface area (p <0.0001), type (p <0.001) and duration (p <0.01) of training, and LV circumferential end-systolic stress (p <0.01) were the only independent predictors of the aortic root diameter at all levels. In conclusion, the aortic root diameter was significantly greater in elite strength-trained athletes than in age- and gender-matched endurance athletes. However, significant ascending aorta dilation and aortic regurgitation proved to be uncommon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. antonellodandrea@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: Rosangela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cocchia
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riegler
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scarafile
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gravino
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vriz
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Citro
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Limongelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Salvo
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caso
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bossone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D056352:Athletes; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging