Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Function 10 Years after the Ultra-Endurance Running Event Eco-Trail de Paris® 2011

Abstract

Background: Regular and moderate physical activity is beneficial for physical and mental health, resulting in an increase in life expectancy for both sexes. From a cardiovascular point of view, although the benefits of regular moderate physical exercise have been established, the long-term effects of repeated ultra-endurance running events are still unknown. Hypothesis: The aim of our study is to evaluate the 10-year evolution of the parameters of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions of amateur subjects regularly practising ultra-endurance running events using resting echocardiography. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Level of evidence: Level 3—non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study. Methods: The 66 participants who participated in the 2011 edition of the Eco-Trail de Paris® were contacted by e-mail. Demographic data, sports practice, and the results of an echocardiography scan carried out during the year 2021 evaluating left ventricular systolic and diastolic function variables were collected. Echographic variables from 2011 and 2021 were compared using the paired Student’s t-test. Results: Forty-six (70%) participants responded positively. Twenty (30%) participants could not be reached and were not analysed. Of the 46 respondents, 42 (91%) provided data from a trans-thoracic cardiac ultrasound performed in 2021. Over the past 10 years, the participants reported having completed an average of 4 ± 2 ultra-trails per year. No significant differences were observed between left ventricular diastolic and systolic echocardiographic parameters between the years 2011 and 2021. Conclusions: Among amateur participants, long-distance running is not associated with an alteration in the echocardiographic parameters of resting left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after 10 years of practice. Clinical relevance: Long-term long-distance running practice is not associated with left ventricular cardiac function alteration. These results suggest a potential adaptation role of the cardiovascular system to regular and moderate long-distance running practice.