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Left ventricular mass, geometry and filling in elite female and male endurance athletes
Author(s) -
Stolt A.,
Karjalainen J.,
Hein O. J.,
Kujala U. M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0838.2000.010001028.x
Subject(s) - athletes , medicine , endurance training , elite athletes , cardiology , adult male , physical therapy
We compared echocardiographic findings in female ( n =30) and male ( n =30) endurance athletes to age‐matched female ( n =15) and male ( n =15) sedentary controls. The differences between athletes and controls were similar in both sexes; only left ventricular (LV) mass and septum thickness differed slightly more in men than in women (67% vs 55%, P =0.004, and 36% vs 30%, P =0.03, respectively). LV wall thicknesses were in the normal range in all women, while four (13%) male athletes exceeded 13 mm. In conclusion, the effects of endurance training on echocardiographic findings appear to be quite similar in women and men. However, in female athletes with an abnormally thick left ventricular wall a thorough cardiac evaluation is indicated. This contrasts with male athletes, in whom LV wall thicknesses of over 13 mm are a not uncommon finding.