RESUMEN
Objective:To assess the left ventricular(LV) structure and systolic function in amateur marathon runners using real-time three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(3D-STE) and analyze its correlation with the running volume.Methods:A total of 84 amateur marathon runners were recruited between January 2019 and October 2021 in Hangzhou and were divided into short-term (ST) group(≤6 months) and more extended-term(MET) group(>6 months–2 years) based on their time of participating in the marathon. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled from the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University during the same period as a control group. The running volume of ST and MET runners were recorded, LV end-diastolic volume(EDV), end-systolic volume(ESV), LV mass(LVM), LV ejection fraction(LVEF), LV global longitudinal strain(GLS), global circumferential strain(GCS), global radial strain(GRS), global area strain (GAS), twist, and torsion were measured by conventional echocardiography and 3D-STE. The differences of those parameters among the three groups were compared. The correlation between 3D-STE parameters and the running volume was further analyzed.Results:In ST amateur marathon runners, LV EDV was higher compared with controls( P<0.05). Compared with ST and control groups, LV EDV, ESV, and LVM of MET runners were increased(all P<0.05). In addition, compared with control group, GLS of MET runners was increased( P<0.05). The LVEF, GCS, GRS, GAS, twist, and torsion showed no statistically significant differences among the three groups(all P>0.05). In amateur marathon runners LV EDV, ESV, LVM had statistically significant positive correlations with an average weekly running volume and total running volume (all P<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the total running volume was an independent correlation factor in LV EDV of amateur marathon runners (β=0.618, P<0.01). Conclusions:Amateur marathon runners participating in a short term marathon mainly show an increase in LV EDV, the longitudinal systolic function of the LV can be enhanced in the early stage of the marathon.