Left Atrial Remodelling in Competitive Adolescent Soccer Players

Left atrial (LA) enlargement and improved myocardial diastolic properties are a component of athlete's heart. We performed a longitudinal study involving adolescent athletes to investigate the impact of training on LA remodelling and diastolic function. 21 competitive adolescent soccer players were enrolled and engaged in an 8-month training program. Echocardiographic analysis was performed at baseline, after 4 and 8 months. We assessed diastolic function by Doppler tissue imaging and we analyzed LA adaptations by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. After 4 months, LA mean volume index significantly increased (Delta = 5.47 +/- 4.38 mL/m(2), p <= 0.0001). After 8 months, a further increase occurred (Delta = 8.95 +/- 4.47 mL/m(2), p <= 0.0001). A higher E velocity (p = 0.001; p = 0.001), a greater E/A ratio (p = 0.002; p = 0.0009), a higher e' peak (p = 0.005; p = 0.001), and a greater e'/a' ratio (p = 0.01; p = 0.0006) were observed at 4 and at 8 months, respectively. E/e' ratio significantly decreased after 8 months (p = 0.005). Global peak atrial longitudinal strain and global peak atrial contraction strain values significantly decreased after 8 months (p = 0.0004, p = 0.01, respectively). An 8-month training program is associated with LA dimensional and functional training-specific adaptations in competitive adolescent soccer players. Myocardial diastolic properties can improve after training also in subjects already presenting with features of athlete's heart.