Aortic & peripheral vascular diseaseMeta-analysis
Aortic dimension in elite athletes: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
- random-effects model
Authors' conclusion
Absolute AoSV was mildly larger in athletes compared with non-athlete healthy controls, even when indexed to height. However, no differences were evident when indexed by BSA, irrespective of sex, type of sport, and age.
Study context
- Population
- Elite athletes and non-athlete healthy controls with echocardiographic aortic diameters (studies 1981–2024)21 studies
- Participants
- 9,464 vs 2,637
- Comparison
- Elite athletes vs non-athlete healthy controls
- Elite athletesn = 9,464
- Non-athlete controlsn = 2,637reference
- Outcome
- Echocardiographic aortic diameter at the sinus of Valsalva (AoSV)
Pooled result
Absolute AoSV
MD
1.69 mm
95% CI 1.01–2.37
P < 0.001
Elite athletes vs Non-athlete controls
MD 1.69 mm (95% CI 1.01–2.37); P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (mm/m) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AoSV indexed to height (AoSV/h) — Elite athletes vs Non-athlete controls · Analysis by sex not performed (paucity of studies) | 0.04 (−0.00-0.08) | ||
| −0.0500.050.1Difference, mm/m (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (mm/m²) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AoSV indexed to BSA (AoSV/BSA) | 0.04 (−0.25-0.34) | P = 0.880 | |
| −0.4−0.200.20.4Difference, mm/m² (linear scale) |
| Outcome | effect size (95% CI) | P value |
|---|---|---|
| AoSV indexed to height (AoSV/h) — Elite athletes vs Non-athlete controls · Analysis by sex not performed (paucity of studies) | 2.18 (1.10–3.26) | P < 0.001 |
AoSV indexed to BSA (AoSV/BSA)
- No differences, also according to sex
Influence of age
- Findings not influenced by age
Original publication
Aortic dimension in elite athletes: updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 26 November 2024. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwae385
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it