Anthropometric, haemodynamic, echocardiographic and sports history parameters in our athletes split into two equally sized groups according to young (<25 years) and older (≥25 years) endurance training starting age
| Variable | Young starters (n=46) | Old starters (n=46) | P value |
| Athlete characteristics | |||
| Age (years) | 39.6±7.4 | 44.3±7.4 | 0.003 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 22.4±1.6 | 23.3±1.5 | 0.005 |
| BSA (m2) | 1.9±0.1 | 1.9±0.1 | 0.929 |
| Resting heart rate (bpm) | 56.6±10.9 | 62.0±9.0 | 0.012 |
| Systolic BP at rest (mm Hg) | 120.0±9.4 | 123.2±8.5 | 0.095 |
| Diastolic BP at rest (mm Hg) | 73.8±6.2 | 77.9±6.4 | 0.002 |
| Pulse pressure | 46.3±8.4 | 45.3±7.1 | 0.537 |
| Echocardiography | |||
| Diastolic diameter of AA (mm) | 26.7±2.8 | 27.0±3.3 | 0.577 |
| Systolic diameter of AA (mm) | 29.3±2.7 | 28.7±3.2 | 0.322 |
| Difference in AA diameter (mm) | 2.6±1.4 | 1.7±1.1 | 0.000 |
| Aortic strain (%) | 19.6 (12.6, 30.0) | 10.9 (7.0, 17.4) | 0.007 |
| Aortic distensibility (10−3 mm Hg−1) | 4.2 (2.8, 6.1) | 2.8 (1.5, 3.8) | 0.004 |
| Aortic distensibility (10-6 dyne−1 cm−2) | 3.2 (2.1, 4.6) | 2.1 (1.1, 2.9) | 0.004 |
| Beta stiffness index | 2.6 (1.7, 3.6) | 3.8 (2.7, 6.9) | 0.061 |
| LA volume/BSA (mL/m2) | 31.9±6.4 | 31.4±6.6 | 0.695 |
| LV mass/BSA (g/m2) | 106.5±17.9 | 103.2±19.5 | 0.401 |
| LV concentricity (g/mL2/3) | 8.1±1.2 | 8.8±1.7 | 0.014 |
| LV EDV/BSA (mL/m2) | 67.5±13.4 | 55.7±7.9 | 0.000 |
| LV ejection fraction (%) | 63.2±5.3 | 64.7±5.2 | 0.166 |
| LV stroke volume/BSA (mL/m2) | 42.6±8.9 | 36.1±6.2 | 0.000 |
| E peak (cm/s) | 76.8±17.0 | 72.8±14.8 | 0.231 |
| E’ mean (cm/s) | 12.8±2.1 | 12.2±1.9 | 0.180 |
| E peak/E mean | 6.1±1.3 | 6.0±1.1 | 0.813 |
| E/A | 1.8±0.5 | 1.5±0.3 | 0.000 |
| Sports history parameters | |||
| ET starting age (years) | 16 (13, 20) | 31 (30, 36) | 0.000 |
| ET duration (years) | 25 (18, 29) | 10 (6, 16) | 0.000 |
| Cumulative lifetime ET (h) | 7449 (3731, 10504) | 2184 (1164, 3861) | 0.000 |
| ET per year (h) | 311 (191, 484) | 208 (154, 346) | 0.029 |
| Resistance training per year (h) | 0 (0, 26) | 0 (0, 0) | 0.441 |
| 10 mile race time (min) | 62 (58, 68)* | 73 (69, 81) | 0.000 |
Shown are mean±SD or median (Q1, Q3), and p values for independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests as appropriate.
*Data available only in 45 athletes.
AA, ascending aorta; BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; BSA, body surface area; EDV, end-diastolic volume; ET, endurance training; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle.