Abstract
Training induces changes in cardiac structure and function which improves cardiac output (CO) and oxygen delivery during exercise. It is unclear whether it is cardiac structure or function which is of greatest importance in determining maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). In 55 subjects (15 non-athletes, 32 amateur and 8 elite athletes), left and right ventricular (LV and RV) volumes and mass were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Comprehensive traditional and novel echocardiographic measures included colour-coded Doppler echocardiography to assess myocardial velocities, strain and strain rate at rest and maximal exercise in both ventricles. Measures of cardiac size and function were assessed as univariate and multivariate predictors of VO2max. LV and RV mass correlated strongly with VO2max (r = 0.79 and r = 0.65, respectively, p < 0.0001), as did LV and RV end-diastolic volumes (r = 0.68 and r = 0.75, p < 0.0001) and heart rate reserve (r = 0.60, p < 0.0001). Measures of myocardial function were not predictive of VO2max with the exception of RV diastolic velocities (r = 0.32 and r = 0.36 for rest and exercise, respectively, p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, only RV end-diastolic volume, LV mass and heart rate reserve were independent predictors (beta = 0.28, 0.45 and 0.27 respectively, p < 0.0001) and together explained 73% of the variance in VO2max. Measures of cardiac morphology are strongly associated with VO2max in healthy adults and well-trained athletes. A combination of ventricular volume, mass and heart rate reserve explains much of the variance in VO2max, whilst measures of myocardial function do not further strengthen predictive models.
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Acknowledgments
This project was financed, in part, by a Cardiovascular Lipid Grant (Pfizer, Australia). ALG is supported by a postgraduate scholarship (National Health and Medical Research Council/National Heart Foundation, Australia). AJT is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant, Australia.
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None of the authors have professional relationships with any companies or manufacturers who will benefit from the results of the present study.
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Communicated by Keith Phillip George.
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La Gerche, A., Burns, A.T., Taylor, A.J. et al. Maximal oxygen consumption is best predicted by measures of cardiac size rather than function in healthy adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 2139–2147 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2184-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2184-9