Echocardiographic examination of cardiac structure and function in elite cross trained male and female Alpine skiers

Objective-To assess cardiac structure and function in elite cross-trained m ale and female athletes (Alpine skiers). Methods-Sixteen athletes (10 male, six female) and 19 healthy sedentary con trol subjects (12 male, seven female) volunteered to take part in the study . Basic anthropometry determined height, body mass, body surface area, and fat free mass. Cardiac dimensions and function were determined by two dimen sional, M mode, and Doppler echocardiography. Absolute data and data correc ted for body size (allometrically determined) were compared by two way anal ysis of variance and post hoc Scheffe tests. Results-Absolute left ventricular internal dimension in diastole (LVIDd), s eptal and posterior wall thickness and left ventricular mass were larger in athletes than controls (p<0.05) and also increased in the men (p<0.05) com pared with women (except for septal thickness in controls). An increased LV IDd, septal thickness, posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular mass in athletes persisted after correction for body size except when LVIDd was scaled by fat free mass. Cardiac dimensions did not differ between the sexe s after correction for body size. All functional indices were similar betwe en groups. Conclusion-There is evidence of both left ventricular chamber dilatation an d wall enlargement in cross trained athletes compared with controls. Differ ences in absolute cardiac dimensions between the sexes were primarily due t o greater body dimensions in the men.