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Coronary artery z score values in adolescent elite male soccer players

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2020

Stephan Gerling Open the ORCID record for Stephan Gerling [Opens in a new window] ,
Tobias Pollinger ,
Markus Johann Dechant ,
Michael Melter ,
Werner Krutsch  and
Holger Michel
Stephan Gerling*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Campus St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
Tobias Pollinger
Affiliation:
Department of Visceral Surgery, Hospital Barmherzige Brüder, Regensburg, Germany
Markus Johann Dechant
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Campus St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
Michael Melter
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Campus St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
Werner Krutsch
Affiliation:
Department of Traumatology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Holger Michel
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Campus St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
*
Author for correspondence: Dr S. Gerling, MD, University Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Campus St. Hedwig, Steinmetzstr 1-3, Regensburg93049, Germany. Tel: 0049 941/369-5409; Fax: 0049 941/369-5424. E-mail: stephan.gerling@barmherzige-regensburg.de
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Abstract

Background:

With the increased training loads at very early ages in European elite youth soccer, there is an interest to analyse coronary artery remodelling due to high-intensity exercise.

Design and methods:

Prospective echocardiographic study in 259 adolescent elite male soccer players and 48 matched controls.

Results:

The mean age was 12.7 ± 0.63 years in soccer players and 12.6 ± 0.7 years in controls (p > 0.05). Soccer players had significant greater indexed left ventricular mass (93 ± 13 g/m2 versus 79 ± 12 g/m2, p = 0.001). Both coronary arteries origin could be identified in every participant. In soccer players, the mean diameter of the left main coronary artery was 3.67 mm (SD ± 0.59) and 2.61 mm (SD ± 0.48) for right main coronary artery. Controls showed smaller mean luminal diameter (left main coronary artery, p = 0.01; right main coronary artery, p = 0.025). In soccer players, a total of 91% (n = 196) and in controls a total of 94% (n = 45) showed left main coronary artery z scores within the normal range: −2.0 to 2.0. In right main coronary artery, a pattern of z score values distribution was comparable (soccer players 94%, n = 202 vs. controls 84%, n = 40). A subgroup of soccer players had supernormal z score values (>2.0 to 2.5) for left main coronary artery (9%, n = 19, p = 0.01) and right main coronary artery (6%, n = 10, p = 0.025), respectively.

Conclusion:

Elite soccer training in early adolescence may be a stimulus strong enough to develop increased coronary arteries diameters. In soccer players, a coronary artery z score >2.0–2.5 might reflect a physiologic response induced by multiannual high-intensity training.

Keywords

Sudden cardiac deathechocardiographycoronary arterysoccerathletesadolescent
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , March 2021 , pp. 381 - 385
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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