Speckle-tracking echocardiographic imaging of the right ventricular systolic and diastolic parameters in chronic exercise

Morphology and functions of the right ventricle (RV) show differences in the athletes based on whether exercising acutely or chronically. Temporary RV dysfunction occurs during acute exercise. However, RV functions during chronic exercise are speculative. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate RV functions of long-distance runners, who perform chronic exercise, by both conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography. In this study, we examined 44 long-distance runner and 30 sedentary subjects. RV longitudinal strain (LS), RV systolic longitudinal strain rate (LSRs), RV early diastolic longitudinal strain rate and late diastolic longitudinal strain rate parameters were evaluated by apical 4-chamber gray-scale imaging through the septum and free wall of RV in accordance with automated function imaging protocol. It was observed on the conventional echocardiographic parameters of longdistance runners that RA and RVED diameter have been increased (p = 0.028; p = 0.003 respectively), whereas systolic right ventricle fractional area change and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values were similar to those of sedentary subjects (p = 0.65; p = 0.75 respectively). LS and systolic and diastolic strain rate functions were also similar. Morphological adaptation, but not functional change, occurs in the athletes performing chronic exercise.