MORPHOFUNCTIONAL BASIS OF HIGH FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF ATHLETES IN THE LIGHT OF A SIMPLIFIED FOREIGN CLASSIFICATION OF SPORTS. Part 2

Abstract

Aim. To identify morphological changes of the heart and physiological capabilities of athletes in different sports. Materials and methods. The sample involved 2647 national-level athletes. In 1917 of them, echocardiographic data were compared with the results of a cardiopulmonary test. Results. The main trend was increased frequency and magnitude of eccentric LV hypertrophy, as well as increased VO₂ peak, VO₂ anaerobic threshold, and performance capacity values from the first to the fourth group. The proportion of people with signs of left ventricular remodeling varied between groups, ranging from 14.4 to 45%. The greatest correlation with functional parameters was associated not with the linear characteristics of the left ventricle but with the volume ones indexed by the BSA. Conclusion. The A. Pelliccia classification reflects general patterns of heart remodeling in athletes. However, their quantitative expression is subject to significant fluctuations, and therefore, its application to athletes below the international level should be limited. It is advisable to evaluate the dimensions of the heart according to the centile values obtained for each of the classification groups.