THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN ATHLETE'S HEART CHARACTERISTICS, GENDER, AND THE DURATION OF SPORTS ACTIVITY

Abstract

The article presents information on a study conducted to investigate the relationship between the size of the left ventricle of the heart, gender, and the duration of physical exercise in athletes. The study involved 54 athletes, including 29 men and 25 women. The degree of the level of exercise and their success according to the national classification of ranks were recorded. Echocardiogtaphy was performed according to standard methods to determining the size of the main structures of the heart, indicators were normalized to body surface area and height. An increase in the diameter of the left ventricle above the reference norm was noted in a quarter of the athletes, in 24.14% of men and 32% of women. The excess of the diameter of the left ventricle relative to the average value of the norm was detected in 52 out of 54 subjects. A negative relationship was found between an increase in the diameter of the left ventricle and the duration of sports activities. Left ventricular dilatation was found in a quarter of athletes, with the same frequency for men and women. The likelihood of left ventricular dilatation increased with physical exercise in the time interval of 5-10 years, was more pronounced for men and decreased after 10 years of sports.