Zamodics Mark, Babity Mate, Schay Gusztav, Bucsko-Varga Agnes, Kovacs Eva, Horvath Marton, Grebur Kinga, Laszlo Marcell Janos, Fabian Alexandra, Lakatos Balint Karoly, Herczeg Szilvia, Vago Hajnalka, Kovacs Attila, Merkely Bela, Kiss Orsolya
Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Varosmajor Street, 1122 Budapest, Hungary.
Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, 68 Varosmajor Street, 1122 Budapest, Hungary.
Sports (Basel). 2025 Jun 9;13(6):180. doi: 10.3390/sports13060180.
The effects of physical activity on skeletal muscle mass and cardiac function are well-documented, but there is limited information on the relationship between the two. Furthermore, differentiating between the 'athlete's heart' and pathological cardiac conditions often presents challenges. We aimed to analyze resting echocardiographic parameters in elite water polo athletes, considering sex, anthropometrics, and body composition. We examined 161 youth and adult athletes (age: 19.7 ± 5.6 years, male: 50.9%). Data analysis was performed with R software (version 4.2), using multivariate linear regression models. Confounders besides the main predictor were sex, age, and height. Male players had higher weight (87.55 ± 12.83 vs. 69.77 ± 9.8 kg), height (188.59 ± 6.82 vs. 173.47 ± 6.76 cm), skeletal muscle mass (SMM, 43.87 ± 5.50 vs. 30.38 ± 3.95 kg), and fat-free mass (FFM, 76.60 ± 9.23 vs. 54.52 ± 6.68 kg) and lower percentage of body fat values (12.14 ± 4.00.vs 21.51 ± 4.76%) compared to the female players. Youth players had lower height (178.51 ± 9.53 vs. 186.74 ± 9.27 kg) and weight (74.34 ± 12.12. vs. 88.23 ± 14.66 kg) compared to adults. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters correlated positively with SMM (Est: 0.38, StE: 0.08, < 0.001 and Est: 0.42, StE: 0.11, < 0.001) and FFM (Est: 0.25, StE: 0.05, < 0.001 and Est: 0.25, StE: 0.06, < 0.001). Right ventricular end-diastolic diameter correlated positively with SMM (Est: 0.18, StE: 0.08, < 0.05) and FFM (Est: 0.12, StE: 0.05, < 0.05). Interventricular septal wall thickness showed positive correlation with SMM (Est: 0.16, StE: 0.04, < 0.001) and FFM (Est: 0.10, StE: 0.02, < 0.001). Left ventricular posterior wall thickness correlated with SMM, with a stronger correlation in females (Est: 0.17, StE: 0.05, < 0.001) than in males (Est:0.7, StE: 0.04, < 0.05). The close relationship between body composition and cardiac dimensions provides an opportunity for professionals to distinguish between athlete's heart and pathological conditions.
体育活动对骨骼肌质量和心脏功能的影响已有充分记录，但关于两者之间关系的信息有限。此外，区分“运动员心脏”和病理性心脏状况往往具有挑战性。我们旨在分析精英水球运动员的静息超声心动图参数，同时考虑性别、人体测量学和身体成分。我们检查了161名青年和成年运动员（年龄：19.7±5.6岁，男性：50.9%）。使用R软件（版本4.2），通过多元线性回归模型进行数据分析。除主要预测因素外，混杂因素包括性别、年龄和身高。与女性运动员相比，男性运动员体重更高（87.55±12.83对69.77±9.8千克）、身高更高（188.59±6.82对173.47±6.76厘米）、骨骼肌质量（SMM，43.87±5.50对30.38±3.95千克）和去脂体重（FFM，76.60±9.23对54.52±6.68千克），且体脂百分比值更低（12.14±4.00对21.51±4.76%）。与成年运动员相比，青年运动员身高更低（178.51±9.53对186.74±9.27千克）、体重更轻（74.34±12.12对88.23±14.66千克）。左心室舒张末期和收缩末期直径与SMM呈正相关（估计值：0.38，标准误：0.08，<0.001；估计值：0.42，标准误：0.11，<0.001）以及与FFM呈正相关（估计值：0.25，标准误：0.05，<0.001；估计值：0.25，标准误：0.06，<0.001）。右心室舒张末期直径与SMM呈正相关（估计值：0.18，标准误：0.08，<0.05）以及与FFM呈正相关（估计值：0.12，标准误：0.05，<0.05）。室间隔厚度与SMM呈正相关（估计值：0.16，标准误：0.04，<0.001）以及与FFM呈正相关（估计值：0.10，标准误：0.02，<0.001）。左心室后壁厚度与SMM相关，女性的相关性更强（估计值：0.17，标准误：0.05，<0.001），高于男性（估计值：0.07，标准误：0.04，<0.05）。身体成分与心脏维度之间的密切关系为专业人员区分运动员心脏和病理状况提供了机会。
