Purpose. Our previous reports showed that the decreased vessel wall radial strain measured by Doppler may be an important supplement to the assessment of the elastic properties of thoracic aorta in various cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effect of intense endurance training on the elastic properties of the large arteries. Methods. We studied 25 regularly trained endurance athletes (17 males, mean age 23±7yrs) and 25 age- and sex-matched control subjects (17 males, mean age 22±8yrs). Studies were performed at the resting state. Aortic M-mode and TDI parameters were measured 3 cm above the aortic valve. Aortic distensibility (D), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and aortic stiffness index (SI) were calculated using accepted formulae. Maximum velocity of the first and second systolic wall expansion peaks (S, S1,cm/sec), acceleration time (AT, msec), maximum velocity of early (E, cm/sec) and late (L, cm/sec) diastolic retraction velocity peaks of the ascending aorta and wall peak systolic strain (ps-, %) were determined (EchoPAC, version 9.0, GE Ultrasound). Results. Higher PWV (9.7±1.8m/s vs 6.9±1.7m/s, p<0.05) and SI (6.6±1.1 vs 4.8±0.9, p<0.01) indicated increased aortic stiffness in athletes. Aortic ps- (8.8±2.5% vs 16.3±4.1%, p<0.005) and D (51±13 m2/N vs 68±16 m2/N, p<0.05) were significantly decreased in athletes group compared with the control group. Athletes had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (128±11 vs. 119±14, and 81±8 vs.74±11, p<0.05, respectively) and reduced heart rate (59±9 vs.68±6, p<0.05) compared to controls. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis in the athletes group revealed that aortic S velocity (β=0.34, p=0.006) and ps- (β=0.41, p=0.008) were the main predictors of aortic distensibility (overall R2 = 0.59). Conclusions. Our data show that aortic wall velocity and strain assessed by TDI are increased in endurance athletes and suggest reduced arterial wall distensibility.
Assessment of aortic stiffness in endurance athletes by strain Doppler echocardiography / Vitarelli, Antonino; Bernardi, M; Scarno, Antongiulio; Caranci, Fiorella; Padella, V; Dettori, Olga; Capotosto, Lidia; Vitarelli, M; DE CICCO, V; Bruno, P.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY. - ISSN 1525-2167. - STAMPA. - 11 (Suppl 2):(2010), p. ii28. (Intervento presentato al convegno Euroecho 2010 tenutosi a Copenhagen, Denmark nel 8-11 Dec. 2010).
Assessment of aortic stiffness in endurance athletes by strain Doppler echocardiography
VITARELLI, Antonino;BERNARDI M;SCARNO, Antongiulio;CARANCI, FIORELLA;DETTORI, OLGA;CAPOTOSTO, LIDIA;
2010
Abstract
Purpose. Our previous reports showed that the decreased vessel wall radial strain measured by Doppler may be an important supplement to the assessment of the elastic properties of thoracic aorta in various cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effect of intense endurance training on the elastic properties of the large arteries. Methods. We studied 25 regularly trained endurance athletes (17 males, mean age 23±7yrs) and 25 age- and sex-matched control subjects (17 males, mean age 22±8yrs). Studies were performed at the resting state. Aortic M-mode and TDI parameters were measured 3 cm above the aortic valve. Aortic distensibility (D), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and aortic stiffness index (SI) were calculated using accepted formulae. Maximum velocity of the first and second systolic wall expansion peaks (S, S1,cm/sec), acceleration time (AT, msec), maximum velocity of early (E, cm/sec) and late (L, cm/sec) diastolic retraction velocity peaks of the ascending aorta and wall peak systolic strain (ps-, %) were determined (EchoPAC, version 9.0, GE Ultrasound). Results. Higher PWV (9.7±1.8m/s vs 6.9±1.7m/s, p<0.05) and SI (6.6±1.1 vs 4.8±0.9, p<0.01) indicated increased aortic stiffness in athletes. Aortic ps- (8.8±2.5% vs 16.3±4.1%, p<0.005) and D (51±13 m2/N vs 68±16 m2/N, p<0.05) were significantly decreased in athletes group compared with the control group. Athletes had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (128±11 vs. 119±14, and 81±8 vs.74±11, p<0.05, respectively) and reduced heart rate (59±9 vs.68±6, p<0.05) compared to controls. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis in the athletes group revealed that aortic S velocity (β=0.34, p=0.006) and ps- (β=0.41, p=0.008) were the main predictors of aortic distensibility (overall R2 = 0.59). Conclusions. Our data show that aortic wall velocity and strain assessed by TDI are increased in endurance athletes and suggest reduced arterial wall distensibility.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
