Abstract
Purpose
Left atrial (LA) contraction is essential for left ventricular (LV) filling during exertion. We sought to evaluate the relationship of LA contraction and exercise capacity in trained athletes.
Methods
Sixteen male marathon runners were recruited and allocated into two groups according to their previous training status (≥ or < 100 km peer week). All subjects underwent a baseline cardiopulmonary test to evaluate maximal aerobic capacity and a transthoracic echocardiography previous and immediate post-marathon. LA contractile function evaluation was accomplished by measuring the negative deformation of the post P wave strain curve (LASa). LASa change was defined as LASa pre-marathon minus LASa immediate post-marathon.
Results
Mean age was 39 ± 6 years. LA volume index (39 ± 13 vs. 31 ± 5 mL/m2, p = 0.04), LV mass index (91 ± 21 vs. 73 ± 12 g/m2, p = 0.04), VO2 max (59 ± 3 vs. 50 ± 8 mL/kg/min, p = 0.036) were higher in more intensive trained group and marathon time was lower (185 ± 14 vs. 219 ± 24 min, p = 0.017). An increase in LASa after immediate post-marathon was observed in both groups, which was significantly greater in the highly trained group (18.9 ± 5.8 vs. 6.3 ± 3.5%, p < 0.003). Maximum VO2 measured previous to the marathon was inversely related to marathon time and directly correlated to LASa change (rho = 0.744, p = 0.001, rho = 0.546, p = 0.028, respectively).
Conclusions
Athletes with more intensive training load have larger LV mass and LA size. An increase in LA contraction was seen post-marathon, which was significantly greater in the highly trained group. This increase in the LA contraction was related to the maximum VO2 measured previous to the marathon and to performance in a highly demanding test.
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Abbreviations
- BP:
-
Blood pressure
- cTnT:
-
Cardiac troponin T
- GFR:
-
Glomerular filtration rate
- hs-CRP:
-
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein
- LA:
-
Left atrium
- LASa:
-
Negative deformation of the post P wave strain curve
- LAVI:
-
Left atrial volume index
- LV:
-
Left ventricle
- NT-proBNP:
-
N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- TTE:
-
Transthoracic echocardiography
- VO2 max:
-
Maximum oxygen consumption
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by FONDECYT 1170963 (L.G., M.C.) and FONDAP 15130011 (L.G., M.C., M.P.O., L.G., S.L. and P.F.C.).
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LG: protocol design, data analysis, manuscript redaction, final approval. SH: echocardiographer, data base management, final approval. FC: data analysis, final approval. JV: manuscript redaction, final approval. MPO: protocol design, data analysis and final approval. FY: protocol design, final approval. MS: data analysis, final approval. data analysis, manuscript redaction and final approval. MCh: protocol design, data analysis, manuscript redaction and final approval. SL: protocol design, manuscript redaction, final approval. PC: protocol design, data analysis, final approval. RS: echocardiographer, data base management, final approval. RF: echocardiographer, data base management, final approval.
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Communicated by Keith Phillip George.
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Gabrielli, L., Herrera, S., Contreras-Briceño, F. et al. Increased active phase atrial contraction is related to marathon runner performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 1931–1939 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3927-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3927-7