277 Cardiac remodeling in tennis players participating in veteran Roland-Garros tournament

Abstract

The practice of intensive tennis may lead to cardiac changes. The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac changes due to tennis practice in veteran tennis players. We have systematically proposed a complete screening echocardiography to the tennis players (>35 years) participating in the 2007 and 2008 veteran Roland-Garros tournaments. The protocol was approved by the French federation of tennis. The study population consisted in 213 veteran tennis players. All subjects included in this study underwent a complete echocardiography (2D echo, M-mode, CW, PW and color Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging). Analysis was performed according to the decade of life and to the level of tennis practice (intensive (> 10 hours/week) versus moderate training [T+ vs. T-]). Mean age was 55.5±12.3 yo. Twenty-one patients were excluded from the analysis because of echocardiographic results (detection of 1 Marfan syndrome, 1 dilated cardiomyopathy, 2 CAD, 2 aortic stenosis and 2 significant mitral regurgitations) or previous history of hypertension. LV mass was significantly higher in subjects T+ whatever the decade of life in women and in men (p<0.005). No correlations were observed between age and LV mass. LV diameter and LV ejection fraction were not significantly different in T+ and T−, and whatever the decade of life (p=NS). Right and left atrial measurements were significantly higher in T+ (p<0.02). Diastolic function was statistically different according to the decade of life (impaired relaxation in subjects > 60 yo), as expected, but E/e’ ratio was <15 in all patients). Our study supports the view that echocardiography allows to detect cardiac pathology in veteran tennis players. Practice of tennis leads to increase LV mass and right and left atrial measurements in T+ veteran tennis players. Systolic and diastolic function remains preserved whatever the decade of life and the intensity of training.