title: Relationship between the heart rate and E/A ratio in athletic and non-athletic males.
abstract: To clarify whether the higher E/A quotient of male athletes is a favourable change in the intrinsic relaxation properties of the left ventricle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peak early (E) and atrial blood flow velocities (A) were assessed by Doppler echocardiography at rest in 1237 males (939 athletes) in Hungary. Data were collected between 1993 – 2009. Relationship between E/A and resting heart rate (HR), was determined by linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The E/A decreased with age, the rate of decrease was slower in the physically trained subjects, except in children. In children, adolescent-young and young adult subjects E/A against HR equations of the athletic and nonathletic groups were similar, differences between the means were only due to the differences of the HR. In the 31 – 44 yr old males, the intercepts of the athletes' regression lines were higher. The oldest (>44 yr) active subjects showed a significant regression while sedentary males did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HR-independent beneficial effect of regular physical training on the diastolic function manifests itself at the older ages. The impact of resting HR should always be taken into consideration when assessing intergroup differences in the E/A ratio, especially when studying the effect of exercise training upon cardiac function.
authors: Department of Health Science and Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. zsu@tf.hu
authors: Zsuzsanna
authors: Z
authors: Kneffel
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Varga-Pintér
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tóth
authors: Zs
authors: Z
authors: Major
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pavlik
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D016275:Atrial Function; D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006339:Heart Rate; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D055815:Young Adult