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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(13): 1209-1221
DOI: 10.1055/a-1386-4805
Clinical Sciences

Influencing Factors of Cardiac Adaptation in Adolescent Athletes

Dora Szabo 
1   Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Dora Nagy
2   Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Csaba Melczer
2   Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Pongrac Acs
2   Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Laszlo Ratgeber
2   Institute of Physiolotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Istvan Szokodi
1   Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Miklos Toth
3   Szentagothai Research Centre , University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Attila Cziraki
1   Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Kata Eklics
4   Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
,
Zsolt Sarszegi
1   Heart Institution, Cardiology Department, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
› Author Affiliations Funding: This work was supported by grants from the Development and Innovation Office in Hungary (NKFIH K120536), and the Thematic Excellence Program 2020 - Institutional Excellence Sub-program / National Excellence Sub-program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary, within the framework of the 2. thematic program of the University of Pécs (2020-4.1.1-TEP2020).
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Abstract

Endurance training-induced changes in left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular parameters have been investigated extensively in adolescent athletes. Our aim was to examine the parameters for adolescent athletes (n=121, 15.1±1.6 years) compared to adult athletes and age-matched non-athletes. We explored the effects of influencing factors on the echocardiographic parameters. Significantly higher E/A (p<0.05) and e’ values (p<0.001) were detected in adolescent athletes compared to age-matched non-athletes’ and also adult athletes’ parameters. Significantly lower structural and functional right ventricular parameters (p<0.05) were detected in adult athletes. In adolescent athletes significantly higher right ventricular diameters, tricuspid S wave, right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic area values (p<0.05) were found compared to the matching parameters of non-athletes. We found significantly higher corrected tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values (p<0.001) in athletes compared to the non-athletes. Based on multivariate analysis lean body mass, body surface area, age and cumulative training time were proved as strong predictive factors of both left ventricular diastolic and right ventricular parameters. Supernormal left ventricular diastolic function and significantly higher right ventricular parameters are indicative of cardiac adaptation. Well-defined cut-off values should be applied to discriminate pathological conditions in the relation of the influencing factors.

Key words

left ventricular diastolic function - right ventricular parameters - echocardiography - sports cardiology


Publication History

Received: 08 August 2020

Accepted: 25 January 2021

Article published online:
18 May 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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