Echocardiographic studies in Saudi athlete

Abstract

M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiograms were carried out on 334 Saudi athletes in different sporting activities dnhiig the peak of their training seasons. I hey were compared villi 2i age-matched conlrols comprised of men who were rot involved in any systematic sporting activities. The findings of this study indicate that. While controlling for body surface area. die athletes hnd, in general, higher mean values in all of the measured cardiac parameters when compared wilh the controls. The differences were especially significant for Lhc thickness of t h e kft ventricular posterior wall and t h e interventricular septum, However, athlete such as tennis players and high jumpers who were known not to train vigorously did not have values higher than the controls. The results showed that the septal hypertrophy observed was nor ot lhaL nature as to nhstriicl Ihe left ventricular outflow tract as found it: obstructive cardiomyopathy and is therefore not likely to contribute to sudden death in athletes. The d a t a obtained in this study were compared with those found in athletes of some other countries.