[Long-term effects of competitive sport activity on the heart of professional ex-athletes]

Cardiac adaptation due to sport activity are usually interpreted as physiological process induced by cardiac overload during vigorous and continued muscle activity. The aim of this work was to evaluate long term cardiac effects of competitive sport activity performed in youth, after retirement. In particular we investigated: 1) whether cardiac adaptations to exercise are reversible and 2) whether or not previous competitive activity affects the cardiac ageing process or modifies ventricular function. We studied 23 professional retired athletes (PRA): 16 football players and 7 boxers, aged 40-60, who had been active in their sports for 16 years mean and who completely interrupted training and competition for at least 10 years. Our evaluation consisted of a questionnaire, a clinical assessment, an electro- and echocardiographic examination at rest. Data obtained in PRA were compared with those of twenty subjects matched for sex, age and weight who had never been athletes (control group = C) (Tab. I). We found: left ventricular hypertrophy in 5 cases (according to the "Point Score System" electrocardiographic evaluation): tall T waves in the precordial leads in 4 and conduction defects in other 4 cases. One subject had evidence of ischemic heart disease. Eleven cases were normal (Tab. II). Echocardiographic data demonstrated concentric heart hypertrophy and depressed ventricular function in PRA. Cardiac mass calculations were significantly higher in PRA with respect to C, more so for wall thickening than for cavitary enlargement. We concluded that: 1) cardiac adaptation due to physical exercise are not completely reversible and 2) systolic ventricular work, evaluated by means echocardiographic indices (EF, CSF and CSR) is depressed in PRA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)