Abstract
Background
Whether cardiovascular (CV) risk factors might impact Left Ventricular (LV) mass in athletes is unknown.
Methods
The impact of CV risk factors (Total/LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, positive family history, smoking, body fat, blood pressure), constitutional characteristics (age, sex, body mass index) and type of sport was assessed in 1111 Olympic athletes.
Results
Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant impact: BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8. 95° Confidence Interval [CI] 0.9–13.7; < 0.001; in males); age ≥ 20-year (OR = 2.1, CI 1.4–3.3; p < 0.001) in males; (OR = 2.3; CI 1.4–3.7) in females; systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg (OR = 1.1, CI 1.01–1.16; p < 0.001) in males; (OR = 1.03; CI 1.01–1.06; p < 0.03) in females; diastolic ≥ 85 mmHg (OR = 1.1, CI 1.03–1.2; p = 0.003) in males; (OR = 1.05, CI 1.02–1.08, p < 0.001) in females. No association was found for family history, smoking, body fat, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides.
Overall, constitutional traits explain > 60% of the LV mass. Sport explains on average 14%, but large differences existed among disciplines, i.e., endurance showed the highest impact (55%, mixed: 20%, power: 17%, skill: 8%; p < 0.001).
Conclusion
LV mass in athletes is largely governed by constitutional traits and type of sport, and independent from CV risk factors, except for systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Overall, constitutional traits explain more than 60% of LV mass. The impact of sport is largely different in relation to the discipline, and highest in endurance, moderate mixed and power and mild in skill disciplines.
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Data availability
Data set of the presnet investigaiton remain available upon scientific justified request.
Abbreviations
- BSA:
-
Body surface area
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- CV:
-
Cardiovascular
- LV:
-
Left ventricular
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Pelliccia, A., Borrazzo, C., Maestrini, V. et al. Determinants of LV mass in athletes: the impact of sport, constitutional traits and cardiovascular risk factors. Eur J Appl Physiol 123, 769–779 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05098-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05098-9