We compared echocardiographic findings in female (n=30) and male (n=30) end
urance athletes to age-matched female (n=15) and male (n=15) sedentary cont
rols. The differences between athletes and controls were similar in both se
xes; 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, re
spectively), LV wall thicknesses were in the normal range in all women, whi
le four (13%) male athletes exceeded 13 mm, In conclusion, the effects of e
ndurance training on echocardiographic findings appear to he quite similar
in women and men, However, in female athletes with an abnormally thick left
ventricular wall a thorough cardiac evaluation is indicated. This contrast
s with male athletes, in whom LV wall thicknesses of over 13 mm are a not u
ncommon finding.