Coronary artery z score values in adolescent elite male soccer players. (24th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gerling, Stephan; Pollinger, Tobias; Dechant, Markus Johann; Melter, Michael; Krutsch, Werner; Michel, Holger
• Is Part Of: Cardiology in the young. Volume 31:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2021-03-24
• Subjects: Sudden cardiac death, -- echocardiography, -- coronary artery, -- soccer, -- athletes, -- adolescent; Pediatric cardiology -- Periodicals; 618.9212
• DOI: 10.1017/S1047951120004011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-9511

Abstract

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/m 2 versus 79 ± 12 g/m 2, 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.