PhD Scientific Days 2024

Poster Session N - Cardiovascular Medicine and Research 2.

The relationship between cardiopulmonary exercise-derived physical fitness and tissue characterization through T1-mapping: an additional aspect of the athlete’s heart

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides the opportunity to evaluate the morphological, functional, and tissue characteristics of the athlete's heart. However, the data regarding new T1 mapping are still contradictory. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) plays a pivotal role in diagnosing performance.
Aims: Our research aimed to investigate the tissue characteristics of the athlete's heart and their
correlations with cardiopulmonary fitness, as well as to determine the factors influencing adaptation.
Method: In our prospective study, we included healthy competitive athletes examined between 2019 and 2023. As part of our study, in addition to the athlete's questionnaire and 12-lead ECG, we performed vita maxima CPET (treadmill) and native CMR examination(1.5T).
Results: In total, we examined 122 athletes (age: 19 (16-25)years; 55% male; training hours 20 (15- 24)hours/week), who mainly participated in mixed (55%) and endurance (36%) sports. The most marked adaptation was shown by endurance male athletes, including left ventricular muscle mass and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). Native T1 mapping values were lower in males (male vs. female: 945(928-962) vs. 967(941-977)ms, p<0.001) and in endurance athletes (endurance vs. mixed: 940(917-957) vs. 952(938-973)ms, p=0.005). In examining the relationship between T1 mapping and CPET values, there was a significant correlation between the T1 mapping value and maximum oxygen uptake (r=-0.409, p=<0.001), maximum carbon dioxide output (r=-0.387, p<0.001), and oxygen pulse (r=-0.345, p<0.001). Independent predictors of T1 mapping changes were VO2max (beta=-1.136, p=0.009) and left ventricular muscle mass index (beta=-0.455, p=0.035).
Conclusions: The lower T1 mapping value can be considered part of the physiological sports adaptation, which depends on gender, the type of sports activity, and related to cardiopulmonary fitness. Our results can contribute to a better understanding of the correlations of sports adaptation, and its differential diagnosis.
Funding: TKP2021-NKTA-46; K135076