Echocardiographic characteristics of male athletes of different age

Abstract

Two dimensionally guided M mode and Doppler echocardiographic data for 578 male subjects (106 non-athletic and 472 athletes) were analysed from two aspects: (a) in the young adult category (19-30 years of age), competitors in diVerent groups of sports were studied; (b) in the diVerent age groups (children, 10-14 years; adolescent juniors, 15-18 years; young adults, 19-30 years; adults, 31-44 years; older adults 45-60 years), data for athletes and non-athletes were compared. Morphological variables were related to body size by indices in which the exponents of the numerator and denominator were matched. Morphological signs of athletic heart were most consistently evident in the left ventricular muscle mass: in the young adult group, the highest values were seen in the endurance athletes, followed by the ball game players, sprinters/jumpers, and power athletes. A thicker muscular wall was the main reason for this hypertrophy. Internal diameter was only increased in the endurance athletes, and this increase was more evident in the younger groups. The E/A quotient (ratio of peak velocity during early and late diastole) indicated more eVective diastolic function in the endurance athletes. The values for E/A quotient also suggested that regular physical activity at an older age may protect against age dependent impairment of diastolic function. (Br J Sports Med 2001;35:95-99)

Cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic function in physically well trained and in obese men

“…As a relative parameter, the quotient LV end-diastolic WT/ID was also calculated. On the basis of our 15,26 and other previous studies, 27,28 the following exponent-corrected indices were used to relate cardiac measures to body size:…”

“…In older people, it is more difficult to assess the role of hypertrophy. Based on sports cardiologic studies 15,[19][20][21][22][23][24] made in the last few years, the two types of hypertrophy can be best separated functionally, primarily by using the parameters of diastolic function.…”

“…Echocardiographic data of the last decades indicate that in these cases both LV wall thickness and LV volume increase. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Hence, it is not easy to evaluate cardiac hypertrophy. It can be the result of an illness, of a pathological state, but in other cases it can be interpreted as a positive outcome of a healthy, physically active lifestyle.…”

Calorie restriction can reverse, as well as prevent, aging cardiomyopathy

“…This point has been controversial in other rodent models with some studies showing LV dilation with aging cardiomyopathy in rodents (Iemitsu et al 2002;Luptak et al 2007;Niemann et al 2010;Boyle et al 2011), whereas others did not (Afilalo et al 2007). Importantly, the majority of (Gardin et al 1979;Rodeheffer et al 1984;Pavlik et al 2001). However, CR reduced LVEDD and LVESD significantly.…”

Razlike u zdravstvenim pokazateljima kod nogometaša mlađih i starijih od 30 godina / Differences in health indicators in football players younger and older than 30 years

“…The study on the long term and short-term effects of heavy dynamic exercise on neural control of heart rate may explain the coexistence of training bradycardia, with signs of enhanced sympathetic activity in trained champion athletes (Furlan et al, 1993). E/A quotient (ratio of peak velocity during early and late diastole) suggested that regular physical activity at an older age might protect against age dependent impairment of diastolic function (Pavlik et al, 2001). In the study of the effects of aekivanjima.…”