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Objectives: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is the most common congenital cardiac malformation. BAV is considered as a valvulo-aortopathy and can lead to aortic valve stenosis, aortic valve regurgitation and aortic dilatation. Moreover, patients with BAV have a higher risk of aortic dissection and other catastrophic aortic events. Regular exercise causes morphological and physiological adaptations to the heart and could theoretically increase the risk of complications in BAV patients. Up to now, there is no clarity on the effects of sports exercise in BAV patients. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigates the effect of intensive training in people with bicuspid aortic valve. Patients and methods: 69 participants were recruited including 23 BAV athletes, 21 BAV non-athletes and 26 TAV athletes. Participants were evaluated and informed at the Leuven University Hospital or Antwerp University hospital. Cardiac evaluation was performed by transthoracic echocardiography. Demographic and echocardiographic parameters were compared between the groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: Prevalence of BAV in athletes (1,07%) and non-athletes (1,45%) in this study was similar to the prevalence in other studies. Ascending aorta diameter was significantly different between the three groups (P = 0,04), but with post-hoc correction, no significant differences could be found. The presence of aortic valve regurgitation or aortic valve stenosis was significantly higher in BAV participants compared to TAV participants (P <0,05 for AR, P <0,05 for AS). Difference between BAV athletes compared to BAV non-athletes for aortic valve dysfunction was not significant Both athlete groups had characteristics of an athlete’s heart compared to the BAV non-athletes. Conclusion: No increased risk of sport participation in BAV patients was found. Therefore, sports recommendations for BAV patients should depend on the presence of complications instead of the presence of BAV itself.
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Background: Left atrial (LA) strain, comprising LA reservoir, conduit and booster function might be useful to measure in patients after arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Aberrant ventriculoarterial coupling makes them vulnerable to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) reflected in a reduced exercise capacity measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). This study aimed to evaluate the relation between LA strain, ventricular function and CPET data in patients after ASO. Methods: In a cohort of 44 patients, we measured LA strain using transthoracic speckle-tracking echocardiography. Further assessment involved standard echocardiography, CPET evaluation, and blood sampling. Correlations and regression analysis with all strain variables were calculated. Results: LA reservoir, conduit and contractile strain were normal in 30%, 89% and 50% of the patients, respectively. Left ventricle ejection fraction correlated to LA reservoir/contractile strain (ρ 0.310/-0.328, respectively), LA volume index correlated with LA reservoir/conduit strain (ρ 0.336/-0.357, respectively), and NT-proBNP values correlated to LA conduit strain (ρ -0.342). Mean peak %VO2, VE/VCO2 slope and % predicted maximal heart rate were 80.3%, 28.2 and 100.2%, respectively. None of the LA strain parameters correlated significantly with these CPET variables. In multivariate regression analysis, LA contractile strain was significantly associated with the predicted maximal heart rate (β -2.555). Discussion: In this study cohort of TGA patients after ASO repair, the majority presented abnormal LA reservoir strain, suggesting LVDD. Though LA strain didn’t correlate with standard CPET parameters, this work revealed an association between reduced LA strain and chronotropic incompetence.
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