Longitudinal cardiac remodeling in collegiate American football players as assessed by echocardiography during their collegiate career

Abstract

Background: Studies on the longitudinal effects of intense physical training on cardiac remodeling are limited, especially in American collegiate football players. Hypothesis: College-level American football training will result in remodeling in a pattern consistent of a sport with moderate static and dynamic demands with increases in both wall and chamber sizes. Methods: We studied 85 American collegiate football players who underwent transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) for asymptomatic or mild COVID-19-related illness and compared the changes in echo dimensions to their preparticipation screening TTE. Pre- and posttraining variables were compared using a paired t-test for normally distributed variables. Results: Mean age was 19 years ± 1 and 61% of athletes were Black. Mean follow-up between TTEs was 21 ± 13 months. There was an increase in left atrial volume index (26.4 ± 5.5 to 32.8 ± 8.4 mL/m2, p 2 years of training. Presence of left atrial enlargement (≥35 mL/m2) increased from 2.9% to 29% pre- to postparticipation in athletes with >2 years training. No significant changes in wall thickness, diastolic function, or right ventricular systolic function were observed. Conclusion: American football players college-level training was associated with increases in left and right ventricular chamber sizes, left atrial size, and aortic root diameter.