Left Ventricular Myocardial Work Indices and Mechanical Dispersion in an Elite Basketball Athlete Population

Elite basketball athletes undergo unique physiological cardiac adaptations. Novel myocardial strain indices, such as global myocardial work index (GWE) and left ventricular mechanical dispersion (LVMD), provide valuable insight into myocardial mechanics and have never been previously investigated in a large elite athlete population. Investigating the ranges of left ventricular myocardial work indices and LVMD within a normal elite basketball athlete population. A retrospective cross-sectional study analyzing echocardiographic and strain-based indices of elite basketball athletes from the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft Combine. Participants were classified by various cutoffs of indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (iLVEDV), racial differences, and myocardial work efficiency (GWE). Of 201 athletes, mean age was 20 ± 2 years, height 198 ± 9 cm, BSA 2.3 ± 0.2 m², and 86.6% were black. Mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) -17.8 ± 1.7%, LVMD 49.6 ± 22 ms and global work index 1,594.1 ± 232.3 mmHg% within the entire cohort. No significant differences in LVGLS, LVMD, or myocardial work indices were observed between racial groups or between athletes with iLVEDV >74 ml/m² vs iLVEDV <74 ml/m². Athletes with GWE <96% were significantly taller, had lower LV GLS (p = <0.001), global work indices (p = <0.001), and higher LVMD (p = <0.001) compared to GWE >96%. In conclusion, myocardial work and mechanical dispersion were not significantly different between athletes of different racial groups or iLVEDV. Athletes with GWE <96% had significantly lower LV GLS, global myocardial work indices, and higher LVMD compared to athletes with GWE >96%.