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Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(4): 233-237
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39499
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

QT Dispersion in Elderly Athletes with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

F.  Galetta1 , F.  Franzoni1 , G.  Santoro1 , F.  Prattichizzo2 , F.  R.  Femia1 , F.  Pastine1 , F.  Pentimone1
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, S. Miniato ASL, Empoli, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: October 25, 2002

Publication Date:
04 June 2003 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the QT dispersion in elderly endurance athletes with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Sixteen athletes (males, mean age 67.6 ± 4.5 years) with mild to moderate LV hypertrophy, were compared with 16 age-matched hypertensive patients with similar degree of LV hypertrophy and 16 age-matched healthy sedentary controls. All the participants underwent echocardiogram and 12-lead electrocardiogram. QT dispersion was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QT intervals in the different leads. QT dispersion was corrected (QTc) for heart rate according to Bazett's formula. The results showed in athletes and hypertensive patients comparable LV mass (258.2 ± 14.2 vs. 262.4 ± 16.8 g, ns), which was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.001). Trained subjects had QT dispersion (38.6 ± 10.2 ms) and QTc dispersion (39.4 ± 11.3 ms) significantly lower than hypertensive patients (QT dispersion: 68.4 ± 11.4 ms; QTc dispersion: 72.2 ± 8.4, p < 0.001) and comparable with controls (QT dispersion: 44.3 ± 8.4 ms; QTc dispersion: 46.2 ± 6.2 ms, ns). In conclusion, in elderly athletes training-induced myocardial hypertrophy was characterized by a QT dispersion significantly lower than hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy. This could provide a simple and inexpensive screening method for differentiating physiologic from pathologic myocardial hypertrophy in elderly subjects.

Key words

QT dispersion - left ventricular hypertrophy - elderly athletes

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Dr. F. Galetta

Department of Internal Medicine · University of Pisa School of Medicine

Via Roma 67 · 56126 Pisa · Italy ·

Phone: +39-050-993373

Fax: +39-050-553414

Email: fgaletta@med.unipi.it

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