Athlete's bradycardia may be a multifactorial mechanism.

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Comparison of the heart function adaptation in trained and sedentary men after 50 and before 35 years of age.

International audienceThe effects of aging and of sustained athletic activity on the heart in men aged >50 years are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the adaptation of the heart in athletic and sedentary men aged 8 hours of bicycling per week in the athletic groups. Left ventricular mass was greater in the Y(ATH) than in the S(ATH) group (p <0.01) and greater in the S(ATH) than in the S(SED) group (p <0.001). Likewise, left ventricular volumes were greater in the athletic than in the sedentary groups (p <0.05), although they were smaller in the seniors than in youth (p <0.01). Left ventricular stroke volume was greater in the athletic than in the sedentary groups (p <0.001); global longitudinal strain during exercise was -20.0 ± 2.4% in the S(ATH) group and -22.1 ± 2.1% in the Y(ATH) group, compared to -19.2 ± 3.4% in the S(SED) group and -20.2 ± 2.4% in the Y(SED) group (p <0.05, athletic vs sedentary). The e' velocities recorded at the septal and lateral mitral annulus were higher at rest and during exercise (p <0.01) in the youth than in the senior groups. In conclusion, systolic and diastolic myocardial adaptation to regular exercise was significantly more prominent in young than in senior volunteers

Impact of ethnicity upon cardiovascular adaptation in competitive athletes: relevance to preparticipation screening.

International audienceRegular participation in intensive physical exercise is associated with several structural and electrophysiological cardiac adaptations that enhance diastolic filling and facilitate a sustained increase in the cardiac output that is fundamental to athletic excellence. Such cardiac adaptations are collectively referred to as the 'Athlete's Heart' and are frequently reflected on the 12-lead ECG and imaging studies. Thorough knowledge relating to exercise-associated cardiovascular adaptation is imperative for the purposes of differentiating physiological adaptation from cardiac pathology, since an erroneous diagnosis of cardiac disease has potentially serious consequences for the athlete's physical, psychological, social and financial well-being. The majority of studies investigating the cardiovascular adaptation to exercise are based on cohorts of Caucasian athletes. However, there is mounting evidence that ethnicity is an important determinant of the objective manifestations of cardiovascular adaptation to exercise. The most pronounced paradigm of ethnically distinct cardiovascular adaptation to exercise stems from athletes of African/Afro-Caribbean descent, who exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of repolarisation anomalies and left ventricular hypertrophy, compared to Caucasian athletes; the differentiation between athlete's heart and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is particularly challenging in this ethnic group. The extrapolation of ECG and echocardiographic criteria used to diagnose potentially serious cardiac disorders in Caucasian athletes to the African/Afro-Caribbean athlete population would result in an unacceptable number of unnecessary investigations and increased risk of false disqualification from competitive sport. Accurate interpretation of the athlete's ECG and echocardiogram is crucial, particularly when one considers the continuous expansion of preparticipation screening programmes. This review attempts to highlight ethnically determined differences in cardiovascular adaptation to exercise and provides a practical guide for the interpretation of baseline investigations in athletes of diverse ethnic backgrounds

Importance of ventricular longitudinal function in chronic heart failure.

International audienceAIMS: Despite its immediate relevance, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is infrequently performed in the presence of chronic heart failure (CHF). Previous studies of patients suffering from CHF have found a closer correlation between exercise capacity and measurements of diastolic than systolic ventricularfunction. We examined the correlation between echocardiographic measurements and (i) results of CPET and (ii) cardiovascular prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed resting two-dimensional echocardiograms and CPET in 140 patients with CHF (mean age = 61 ± 13 years, 111 men). The underlying heart disease was ischaemic in 48 patients (34%). They were followed for a mean of 38 months (range 28-52). The mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) was 30 ± 9% and peak VO₂ 17.2 ± 6.5 mL/kg/min. LVEF correlated weakly with peak VO₂ (r = 0.21), while systolic and early diastolic LV longitudinal function correlated best [early diastolic peak velocity at the mitral annulus (E'): r = 0.38; global longitudinal strain (GLS): r = -0.4; P <0.001 for both]. By multiple variable regression analysis, the best prediction of peak VO₂ was derived from a model based on age, mitral annulus end-diastolic peak velocity (A'), GLS, right ventricular (RV) systolic strain, and left atrial systolic strain (r² = 0.57; P <0.0001). The two best independent predictors of adverse cardiovascular events at 28 months were GLS (odds ratio 1.31, P <0.001; prognostic cut-off = -8%) and RV systolicstrain (odds ratio 1.05, P =0.01; prognostic cut-off = -22%). CONCLUSION: Resting RV and LV longitudinal functions were reliable predictors of adverse cardiovascular events and correlated moderately with, but not took to the place of, CPET measurements

Daily fatigue-recovery balance monitoring with heart rate variability in well-trained female cyclists on the Tour de France circuit.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyze the daily heart rate variability (HRV) in well-trained female cyclists during the 2017 Tour de France circuit and to relate it to the load and perceived exertion response.MethodsTen female cyclists volunteered to participate in the study. HRV was recorded with a portable heart rate monitor each morning at rest in supine (7 min.) and upright (7 min.) positions, as well as throughout each day's stage. Pre-Tour baseline HRV recordings were made, as well as during the four weeks following completion of the Tour. Exercise daily load was assessed using the training impulse score (TRIMPS). Post-exercise rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was assessed daily using the Borg CR-10 scale.ResultsThe results show a HRV imbalance, increase of sympathetic and decrease of vagal activities respectively, along the event that correlated with rate of perceived exertion (r = 0.46), training impulse score (r = 0.60), and kilometers (r = 046). The greatest change in HRV balance was observed the days after the greatest relative physical load. Mean heart rate and heart rate variability values returned to their baseline values one week after completion of the event.ConclusionsDespite incomplete recovery from day-to-day, fatigue is not summative or augmented with each successive stage and its physical load. Just one week is sufficient to restore baseline values. Heart rate and HRV can be used as a tool to strategically plan the effort of female cyclists that participate in multi-stage events

Mitral regurgitation in dilated cardiomyopathy: value of both regional left ventricular contractility and dyssynchrony.

International audienceAIMS: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is common and independently predicts mortality in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Its management remains challenging because of the complexity and variety of potential mechanisms implicated. We sought to determine which LV functional characteristics are the most important determinants of the severity of the MR associated with dilated cardiomyopathies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed echocardiographic studies in 87 consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The degree of MR was quantified according to guidelines. LV, left atrial and mitral annulus dimensions, mitral valve tenting, estimated filling pressures, regional myocardial contractility, and dyssynchrony (using regional strain (epsilon) analysis) were recorded too. Determinants of significant MR was thus assessed using multivariate models. Mitral regurgitant volume correlated with mitral annulus diameter (P<0.001), mitral valve tenting height (P<0.001), LV volumes (P=0.004), LV ejection fraction, mid-lateral wall peak of epsilon (P=0.01), and its delay (P<0.001). That inter-relation between the mitral annulus, the ventricle shape, contractility, and dyssynchrony was founded in the multivariate analysis. As a matter of fact, the model predicting the best the MR volume (R=0.78) included: mitral annulus diameter, dyssynchrony, tenting heigh and contractility of the LV mid-lateral wall (measured by epsilon). CONCLUSION: The MR of the dilated cardiomyopathy is multifactorial. Our data suggest that analysing only LV geometry and mitral orifice is insufficient to correctly describe functional MR determinant. LV contractility and dyssynchrony are essential too