Lithuanian Atletes' Aortic Diameter

Recent developments in football have seen the sudden death of young football player due to aortic rupture hence reinforcing the controversy of football as a field with substantial risk for sudden cardiac arrest and death. Moreover, there is an argument that aortic dilatation and the subsequent event of thoracic aortic aneurysm may be an occupational disease due to the nature of some vocations (i.e., military and security personnel, blue collar workers, weightlifters, athletes etc.). Of particular importance, there is some evidence that elite athletic training is associated with small but significantly larger aortic root diameter. The purpose of this study was to investigate aortic root adaptation to physical workload and to determine if aortic root's and left ventricle sizes are contingent upon the physical workload

A preliminary data was collected from a total of 944 subjects in Kaunas Sports Medicine Centre during the recruiting period in 2014-2015. Final data analysis consisted of 151 Caucasian subjects who met the inclusion criteria.

All subjects underwent two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) procedure. Prior to performing 2D TTE, subjects' arterial blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, and self-reported physical activity levels were measured.

The Ultrasound system CX50 (Philips Ultrasound, Philips Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems Nederland, USA) - with transducer S5-1 was used in this study. Two physicians performed 2D TTE and averages for all variables of interest were computed. The measurements of aortic root and the left ventricle were drawn upon the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

The maximal diameter of the sinuses of Valsalva was measured at end-diastole, in a strictly perpendicular plane to that of the long axis of the aorta using the edge to leading edge (L-L) convention. The aortic annulus was measured at midsystole from inner edge to inner edge (I-I). This was done in order to obtain the rounder shape and bigger diameter of aortic annulus.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* A total of 2D transthoracic echocardiography performed in Kaunas Sports Medicine Centre 2014-2015.
* Age range 16- 35 years, given the literature definition of 'young' and 'old' athletes as \< 35 and \> 35 years.
* Physical activity levels (athletes or non-athletes). Individuals who participated in sports for more than 4 years and 4.5 hours per week were included in the group of athletes. Individual who were active for less than 4 years and/or 4.5 hours per week were classified as non-athletes.
* Physical activity type (endurance and strength sports).
* No current or previous history cardiovascular diseases.
* No activity on the test day.
* Consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* No 2D transthoracic echocardiography.
* Age below 16 or over 35.
* Involvement in sports for less than 4 years and 4.5 hours per week.
* Sports branches not included in the list of endurance or strength sports (i.e., sprint, high jump, etc.).
* Cardiovascular disease (i.e., hypertonic disease, Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, detected cardiomyopathy, etc.).
* Physical activity on the echocardiography test day.
* No content to participate in the study.