Katarina Steding1, Torsten Buhre2, Bjrn Wohlfart1, Henrik Engblom1, Henrik Mosn1, Bo Hedn1, Hkan Arheden1
1Clinical Physiology, Institution for Clinical Sciences, Lund, Sweden; 2Institution for Sport Sciences, Malm, Sweden
Few studies of the effect of training on cardiac dimensions include females. The aim of the study was to investigate if the morphological response to training differs between males and females. 71 athletes underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and total heart volume (THV), left ventricular mass (LVM) and left- and right end diastolic volume (LVEDV, RVEDV) was calculated. Training increased THV, LVEDV and RVEDV in the same order of magnitude in males and females. Differences in THV/BSA may be diminished when females engage in high frequencies of long-term endurance training. The LVM/THV, however, remain significantly higher in males.