Abstract

The left ventricular diastolic function and compliance of 49 middle-aged and elderly long distance runners were assessed by apexcardiogram (ACG) in comparison with 103 normal control. All subjects were divided into three groups (aged 45-59, 60-69, and over 70). The results showed that total apexcardiographic relaxation time index (TARTI) increased, and diastolic amplitude time index (DATI) increased significantly in all 3 runners groups comparing with those in the same aged control groups. Also, there were significant differences between the runners and control subjects in A/A and F/H, except F/H in the group aged 45-59. However, P/L which can evaluate left ventricular systolic function, was not different in all 3 runners groups and control groups. The results suggested that the left ventricular diastolic function and compliance were improved greathly in middle- aged and elderly runners after their long period daily running exercise. DATI could be considered as a sensitive index in the assessment of left ventricular function. Verf.-Referat