Cardiac structure and function in elite Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Rugby Football League athletes: an exploratory study

Johnson, Christopher, Forsythe, Lynsey, Somauroo, John, Papadakis, Michael, George, Keith and Oxborough, David (2018) Cardiac structure and function in elite Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Rugby Football League athletes: an exploratory study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING, 34 (5). pp. 725-734.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10554-017-1285-x

Abstract

The aim of this exploratory study was to define the Athletes Heart (AH) phenotype in Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NH&PI) Rugby Football League (RFL) athletes. Specifically, (1) to describe conventional echocardiographic indices of left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) structure and function in NH&PI RFL players and matched RFL Caucasian controls (CC) and (2) to demonstrate LV and RV mechanics in these populations. Ethnicity is a contributory factor to the phenotypical expression of the AH. There are no data describing the cardiac phenotype in NH&PI athletes. Twenty-one male elite NH&PI RFL athletes were evaluated using conventional echocardiography and myocardial speckle tracking, allowing the assessment of global longitudinal strain (ε) and strain rate (SR); and basal, mid and global radial and circumferential ε and SR. Basal and apical rotation and twist were also assessed. Results were compared with age-matched Caucasian counterparts (CC; n = 21). LV mass [42 ± 9 versus 37 ± 4 g/(m<sup>2.7</sup>)], mean LV wall thickness (MWT: 9.5 ± 0.7 and 8.7 ± 0.4 mm), relative wall thickness (RWT: 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.31 ± 0.03) and RV wall thickness (5 ± 1 and 4 ± 1 mm, all p < 0.05) were greater in NH&PI compared with CC. LV and RV cavity dimensions and standard indices of LV and RV systolic and diastolic function were similar between groups. NH&PI demonstrated reduced peak LV mid circumferential ε and early diastolic SR, as well as reduced global radial ε. There was reduced basal rotation at 25-35% systole, reduced apical rotation at 25-40% and 60-100% systole and reduced twist at 85-95% systole in NH&PI athletes. There were no differences between the two groups in RV wall mechanics. When compared to Caucasian controls, NH&PI rugby players have a greater LV mass, MWT and RWT with concomitant reductions in circumferential and twist mechanics. This data acts to prompt further research in NH&PI athletes.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Athletes heart, Left ventricle, Right ventricle, Ethnicity, Echocardiography, Strain imaging
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	13 May 2019 10:04
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 00:46
DOI:	10.1007/s10554-017-1285-x
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-017-1285-x
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3041024