Echocardiographic Characterization of Left Heart Morphology and Function in Highly Trained Male Judo Athletes

Jelena Slankamenac, Aleksandra Milovancev, Aleksandar Klasnja, Tamara Gavrilovic, Damir Sekulic, Marijana Geets Kesic, Tatjana Trivic, Violeta Kolarov and Patrik Drid
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Jelena Slankamenac: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Aleksandra Milovancev: Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Aleksandar Klasnja: Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Tamara Gavrilovic: Serbian Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Damir Sekulic: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Marijana Geets Kesic: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Tatjana Trivic: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Violeta Kolarov: Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Patrik Drid: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: The long-term practice of judo can lead to various changes in the heart including increased dimensions of the left ventricle in diastole and thickening of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall of the left ventricle. This study aimed to assess left ventricular morphology and function in elite male judokas. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted that included a total of 20 subjects, 10 judokas, and 10 healthy non-athletes aged 24 ± 2.85 years. Demographic and anthropometric data were analyzed. All subjects underwent a medical examination and a two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram. Different parameters of left ventricular morphology and function were measured and compared between athletes and non-athletes. Left ventricle mass and LV mass index were higher in judokas than in non-athletes ( p < 0.05), as well as PW thickness (9.78 ± 0.89 mm vs. 8.95 ± 0.76 mm). A total of six ( n = 6) of athletes had eccentric hypertrophy, while others had normal heart geometry. LVEDd, LVEDs, LVEDd/BSA, and LVEDs/BSA were significantly higher in judokas ( p < 0.05). LVEDd in athletes ranged from 48 to 62 mm. These values, combined with normal diastolic function, ejection fraction, and shortening fraction, indicate that the judokas’ cardiac adaptation was physiological rather than pathological.

Keywords: athlete’s heart; left ventricular hypertrophy; ventricular remodeling; cardiac adaptation; heart geometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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