TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Sport Activity on Uncomplicated Bicuspid Aortic Valve: Long-Term Longitudinal Echocardiographic Study
AU - Bianco, Massimiliano
AU - Sollazzo, Fabrizio
AU - Modica, Gloria
AU - Zovatto, Isabella Carlotta
AU - Di Mario, Rachele
AU - Monti, Riccardo
AU - Cammarano, Michela
AU - Palmieri, Vincenzo
AU - Zeppilli, Paolo
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect that can lead to certain complications (aortic stenosis, regurgitation, dilatation and endocarditis), the diagnosis and clinical monitoring of which are effectively entrusted to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The impact of training on the natural history of the disease remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective cohort of athletes with uncomplicated BAV aged 18–50 years, who underwent at least 2 TTEs with a minimum follow-up of 5 years, subdivided according to the level of physical activity during follow-up into ‘’untrained’’ and ‘’trained’’, was collected. RESULTS: 47 athletes (87.3% male, median 21.0, (18.0; 33.0) years) were included. Median follow-up was 11.6 (8.4; 16.3) years. No statistically significant difference in the growing rate of aorta, left ventricle, nor a significant worsening of aortic stenosis and regurgitation was found. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between weekly training minutes during follow-up and the echocardiographic parameters related to heart size and function. Conclusions: In BAV without major complications, high training volumes do not correspond to a more rapid and significant deterioration in valve function nor to a more rapid increase in aortic or cardiac chamber size.
AB - Background: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect that can lead to certain complications (aortic stenosis, regurgitation, dilatation and endocarditis), the diagnosis and clinical monitoring of which are effectively entrusted to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The impact of training on the natural history of the disease remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective cohort of athletes with uncomplicated BAV aged 18–50 years, who underwent at least 2 TTEs with a minimum follow-up of 5 years, subdivided according to the level of physical activity during follow-up into ‘’untrained’’ and ‘’trained’’, was collected. RESULTS: 47 athletes (87.3% male, median 21.0, (18.0; 33.0) years) were included. Median follow-up was 11.6 (8.4; 16.3) years. No statistically significant difference in the growing rate of aorta, left ventricle, nor a significant worsening of aortic stenosis and regurgitation was found. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between weekly training minutes during follow-up and the echocardiographic parameters related to heart size and function. Conclusions: In BAV without major complications, high training volumes do not correspond to a more rapid and significant deterioration in valve function nor to a more rapid increase in aortic or cardiac chamber size.
KW - athlete
KW - bicuspid aortic valve
KW - echocardiography
KW - follow-up
KW - pre-participation screening
KW - sport
KW - athlete
KW - bicuspid aortic valve
KW - echocardiography
KW - follow-up
KW - pre-participation screening
KW - sport
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/304699
U2 - 10.3390/jcdd11090285
DO - 10.3390/jcdd11090285
M3 - Article
SN - 2308-3425
VL - 11
SP - N/A-N/A
JO - Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
JF - Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
ER -