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Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
06:34

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography

Published on: October 28, 2020

Left ventricular volumes and mass in marathon runners and their association with cardiovascular risk factors

Kai Nassenstein1, Frank Breuckmann, Nils Lehmann

  • 1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
|August 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac MRI reveals that left ventricular mass and volume in master marathon runners are influenced by age and blood pressure. Higher left ventricular muscle mass may indicate subclinical cardiac changes in older athletes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Assessing cardiac structure in master marathon runners is crucial for understanding exercise adaptations.
  • Investigating the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, plaque burden, and cardiac morphology in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in male marathon runners aged 50 years and older.
  • To correlate these cardiac parameters with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden.

Main Methods:

  • Cardiac MRI (1.5 T) was performed on 105 healthy male marathon runners (mean age 57.3 years).
  • Cine steady-state free precession images were acquired to measure LV volumes and mass.
  • Cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, BMI) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Left ventricular muscle mass (LVMM) positively correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), systolic, and diastolic blood pressures.
  • LV end-diastolic volume increased up to age 55 and then decreased.
  • Runners with higher LVMM (≥150 g) exhibited significantly greater CAC scores.

Conclusions:

  • LVMM and LVEDV increases in master runners are influenced by age and blood pressure, not solely exercise.
  • Left ventricular hypertrophy without volume increase may signal early subclinical cardiac alterations due to risk factor exposure.
Abstract

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