Aortic Root Dimensions and Pulse Wave Velocity in Young Competitive Athletes

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sports Medicine
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Aortic root dimension assessment is crucial in pre-participation screening for athletes.
• Aortic dilation may indicate connective tissue disease and necessitate tailored sports advice.
• Arterial stiffness serves as an early indicator of cardiovascular risk linked to vascular aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of aortic root dilation in young male athletes.
• To investigate the relationship between aortic root dimensions and arterial stiffness in this cohort.
• To assess potential cardiovascular risk associated with aortic dilation in young athletes.

Main Methods:

• Examined 281 young male athletes (aged 14.7 ± 2.1 years) from May 2012 to March 2018.
• Assessed aortic root dimensions and noninvasively measured arterial stiffness parameters during pre-participation screening.
• Analyzed data adjusting for Body Surface Area (BSA).

Main Results:

• Mean aortic diameter was 25.9 ± 3.1 mm.
• Aortic root dilation was identified in 18 out of 281 athletes (6.4%), with no clinical signs of connective tissue disease.
• No significant association was found between aortic root diameter and pulse wave velocity or central blood pressure after BSA adjustment.

Conclusions:

• A notable proportion of young athletes exhibit aortic root dilation, warranting regular monitoring.
• The study found no correlation between aortic root dilation and arterial stiffness in young athletes.
• Dilated aortic roots in young athletes do not appear to increase cardiovascular risk by altering pulse waveform or reflection.