Echocardiographic analysis of the left ventricular function in young athletes: a focus on speckle tracking imaging

Charfeddine, S.; Mallek, S.; Triki, Faten; Hammami, R.; Abid, Dorra; Abid, Leïla; Kammoun, S.

doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.25.171.9095

Cited by 9 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Similar longitudinal strain between SP and CON disagrees with a similar study in young footballers, 12 yet supports the majority of existing literature in young athletes. 10,11 Although documentation of longitudinal strain in paediatric athletes is currently in its infancy, these observations corroborate with the adult athlete's heart that longitudinal strain remains largely unaltered in chronically trained athletes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…However, EF is considered a surrogate marker of LV pump function, 30 and others have reported pre-adolescent athletes have similar EF with comparable or lower LV strain mechanics than CON. [10][11][12] Whereas, in this study SP had a greater EF which was accompanied with augmented circumferential strain and twist, and thus the altered mechanics may explain the greater EF.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…23 The similar LV structure between groups contradicts previous echocardiographic work that has reported greater LV wall thickness or chamber diameter in pre-adolescent SP. 12,24 These contrasting findings may be a product of differences in maturation status of the studied populations. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis found pre-adolescent athletes (<14 years) presented cardiac enlargement to a lesser extent than those within the pubertal growth stage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…7 Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) comprehensively assesses LV mechanics by quantifying deformation in the longitudinal, circumferential and radial planes, as well as rotation and twist. 8,9 Studies using STE to compare young athletes with age-matched controls have been conflicting, [10][11][12] likely due to variations in maturity status, the sex of the athletes, and disparate sports being studied. Some however, have reported lower longitudinal strain 12 and augmented twist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8,9 Studies using STE to compare young athletes with age-matched controls have been conflicting, 10–12 likely due to variations in maturity status, the sex of the athletes and disparate sports being studied. Some, however, have reported lower longitudinal strain 12 and augmented twist. 13 Thus, there is a paucity of data detailing LV mechanics in pre-adolescent soccer players which warrants further investigation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Superior cardiac mechanics without structural adaptations in pre-adolescent soccer players

Beaumont

Oxborough

George

et al. 2019

Eur J Prev Cardiolog

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Aims This study aimed to evaluate left ventricular structure, function and mechanics, in highly-trained, pre-adolescent soccer players compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Design The study design was a prospective, cross-sectional comparison of left ventricular structure, function and mechanics. Methods Twenty-two male soccer players from two professional youth soccer academies (age: 12.0 ± 0.3 years) and 22 recreationally active controls (age: 11.7 ± 0.3 years) were recruited. Two-dimensional conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography were used to quantify left ventricular structure, function and peak/temporal values for left ventricular strain and twist, respectively. Results End-diastolic volume index was larger in soccer players (51 ± 8 mm/(m2)1.5 vs. 45 ± 6 mm/(m2)1.5; p = 0.007) and concentricity was lower in soccer players (4.3 ± 0.7 g/(mL)0.667 vs. 4.9 ± 1.0 g/(mL)0.667; p = 0.017), without differences in mean wall thickness between groups (6.0 ± 0.4 mm vs. 6.1 ± 0.5 mm; p = 0.754). Peak circumferential strain at the base (–22.2% ± 2.5% vs. –20.5% ± 2.5%; p = 0.029) and papillary muscle levels (–20.1% ± 1.5% vs. –18.3% ± 2.5%; p = 0.007) were greater in soccer players. Peak left ventricular twist was larger in soccer players (16.92° ± 7.55° vs. 12.34° ± 4.99°; p = 0.035) and longitudinal early diastolic strain rate was greater in soccer players (2.22 ± 0.40 s–1 vs. 2.02 ± 0.46 s–1; p = 0.025). Conclusions Highly-trained soccer players demonstrated augmented cardiac mechanics with greater circumferential strains, twist and faster diastolic lengthening in the absence of differences in wall thickness between soccer players and controls.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Superior cardiac mechanics without structural adaptations in pre-adolescent soccer players

Beaumont

Oxborough

George

et al. 2019

Eur J Prev Cardiolog

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Myocardial deformation and volume of exercise: a new overlap between pathology and athlete’s heart?

Dores¹,

Mendes

Dinis³

et al. 2018

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging

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Regular physical exercise induces cardiac adaptations that can overlap pathological conditions. Controversy still persists about the variability of myocardial deformation in different types and intensity of exercise. The aim of this study was to assess myocardial longitudinal deformation in athletes with different level of exercise. Two groups of young athletes involved in endurance sports characterized by high intensity dynamic component were enrolled. According to the level and the number of exercise training hours/week, two groups were defined: Group 1-high level (national/international and ≥ 20 training-hours/week; N = 60); Group 2-low level (recreational/regional and < 10 training-hours/week; N = 48). A comprehensive transthoracic echocardiogram including evaluation of global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by 2D speckle-tracking was performed. Athletes in Group 1 showed more pronounced cardiac remodeling and enhanced diastolic function. No significant differences were evident in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) between groups. Overall, GLS (absolute values) was 18.0 ± 2.5%, but significantly lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (17.3 ± 2.6% vs. 18.9 ± 2.1%; p = 0.001). Thirty-three (31%) athletes had GLS below 17%, more frequently in Group 1 (79% vs. 45%; p = 0.001), with higher LV and left atrium volumes, lower E wave and A wave peak velocities and E/e' ratio. In a multivariate analysis to belong to Group 1 was the only independent variable associated with GLS < 17% (OR 6.5; 95% CI 2.4-17.4; p < 0.001). The athletes with a GLS < 17% were all men, more frequently involved in high level exercise, with higher chamber volumes and lower E/e' ratio. Left ventricular global myocardial longitudinal deformation evaluated by GLS was significantly lower in athletes with higher level of exercise. Although GLS in athletes overlap several pathological conditions, these lower values are associated with an enhanced diastolic performance that allows discrimination between physiologic adaptations and pathology.

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Cardiac Structure and Function in Junior Athletes: A Systematic Review of Echocardiographic Studies

Weberruß¹,

Engl²,

Baumgartner³

et al. 2022

Rev. Cardiovasc. Med.

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Background: In young athletes, the level of competitiveness in sports is increasing, as well as frequency and intensity of exercise training. Adaptations of the cardiac system to this increased workload imposed by exercise has not yet been studied sufficiently. In adults, studies point towards a shift from the functional athlete's heart towards pathological cardiac remodelling, with ventricular arrythmia and impaired cardiac function, that is exercise-related. This systematic review investigates cardiac adaptations to exercise in junior athletes compared to inactive controls. Methods: Three electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect and Web of Science) were searched for studies assessing 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D TTE) and 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) parameters in junior athletes, aged 7-19 years, compared to inactive controls. Data was screened and extracted by two reviewers; study quality and risk of bias was assessed by three reviewers. Results: Eight out of 1460 studies met all inclusion criteria, with all studies reporting results on 2D TTE and six studies reporting results on 2D STE parameters in 540 (51 girls) junior athletes and 270 (18 girls) controls. There is evidence for structural cardiac adaptations of the left ventricle and both atria in junior athletes. Results regarding left ventricular function are controversial with a tendency to improved function in dynamic exercising athletes. Left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness point towards higher values in static exercising athletes. Conclusions: Cardiac adaptations to exercise occur in children and adolescents. These adaptations are more pronounced in structural left ventricular parameters. Functional parameters are preserved or slightly improved in junior athletes but not impaired by exercise.

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Echocardiographic analysis of the left ventricular function in young athletes: a focus on speckle tracking imaging

Cited by 9 publications

References 30 publications

Superior cardiac mechanics without structural adaptations in pre-adolescent soccer players

Superior cardiac mechanics without structural adaptations in pre-adolescent soccer players

Myocardial deformation and volume of exercise: a new overlap between pathology and athlete’s heart?

Cardiac Structure and Function in Junior Athletes: A Systematic Review of Echocardiographic Studies

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