Abstract

To evaluate non-invasively the cardiovascular performance in athletes at different ages, we performed a suprasternal continuous-wave Doppler study of the ascending aorta during stress test in two groups of soccer players, the first including 15 adolescents (12-14 ys), the second including 15 adults (18-26 ys); we obtained, in addition to standard ergometric parameters, the following Doppler parameters: basal and effort peak flow-velocity (pkV), basal and effort peak flow-acceleration (pkA) and percent increase between rest and effort pkV and pkA (pkV and pkA respectively). Adolescents carried out a lower total work load and had higher maximum heart rates; they showed higher basal pkV and lower pkV, so that stress pkV was not significantly different than adults (delta%pkV = 580+/-115 vs 950+/-365, delta%pkA = 700+/-165 vs 980+/-346; p<0.05). Basal pkA was not different in two groups, effort pkA was higher, although non significantly, in adults while pkA was significantly higher in adults. Higher pkV in adolescents may be related to a different autonomic control. pkA is higher in adults, who perform a stronger work load. Verf.-Referat