BACKGROUND

High-intensity training has been associated with atrial remodelling and arrhythmias in men. Our purpose was to analyse atrial performance in female endurance athletes, compared to male athletes and controls.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. We included four groups: female athletes, females controls, male athletes and male controls. Left (LA) and right atrial (RA) volumes and function were assessed using 2D and speckle-tracking echocardiography to determine peak atrial strain-rate at atrial (SRa) and ventricular contraction (SRs), as surrogates of atrial contractile and reservoir function, respectively. ANOVA and Bonferroni's statistical tests were used to compare variables among groups.

RESULTS

We included 82 subjects, 39 women (19 endurance athletes, 20 controls) and 43 men (22 endurance athletes, 21 controls). Mean age was similar between groups (36.6 ± 5.6 years). Athletes had larger bi-atrial volumes, compared to controls (women, LA 27.1 vs. 15.8 ml/m, p < 0.001; RA 22.31 vs. 14.2 ml/m, p = 0.009; men, LA: 25.0 vs. 18.5 ml/m, p = 0.003; RA 30.8 vs. 21.9 ml/m, p < 0.001) and lower strain-rate (women, LASRa -1.60 vs. -2.18 s, p < 0.001; RASRa -1.89 vs. -2.38 s, p = 0.009; men, LASRa -1.21 vs. -1.44 s, p = 1; RASRa -1.44 vs. -1.60 s, p = 1). However, RA indexed size was lower and bi-atrial deformation greater in female athletes, compared to male athletes.

CONCLUSIONS

The atria of both male and female athletes shows specific remodelling, compared to sedentary subjects, with larger size and less deformation at rest, particularly for the RA. Despite a similar extent of remodelling, the pattern in women had greater bi-atrial myocardial deformation and smaller RA size.