Alterations in cardiac morphology and function in elite multi-disciplinaryathletes

Early echocardiographic studies of left ventricular (LV) morphology and fun ction focused on single discipline athletes, primarily endurance and streng th trained. To date there are few studies examining multi-disciplinary trai ned athletes. The present echocardiographic study examined LV morphology an d function in 18 elite triathletes (swimming, cycling, and running) and 11 elite modern pentathletes (running, swimming, shooting, fencing, and show-l umping) compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Elite triathletes demo nstrated significantly (p < 0.05) increased LV wall thickness and cavity di mensions together with LV mass, both in absolute terms and scaled for body surface area, compared with controls. Elite modern pentathletes demonstrate d significantly (p < 0.05) increased LV wall thickness with a non-significa nt increase in LV internal diameter. Despite significant LV enlargement, th e distribution of hypertrophy and diastolic filling indices were normal in both triathletes and modern pentathletes and significantly increased in the triathletes. It is concluded that multi-disciplinary training results in v ariations in LV morphology. The inciting stimulus resulting in LV enlargeme nt in triathletes is associated with prolonged endurance activity, together with an isometric component accompanying cycling. In contrast, elite moder n pentathletes experience a reduced endurance component combined with a hig h isometric component associated with fencing.