Objective: The aim: Studying the features of the structure and function of the heart in athletes and identifying the factors that influence the development of these changes.
Patients and methods: Materials and methods: The study included 54 athletes, 29 men and 25 women. The ultrasound study was performed according to standard methods with determining the size of the main structures of the heart, indicators normalized to body surface area, height.
Results: Results: The heart of dilatation and hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium were found in 25.93% of the athletes. When comparing the diameter of the left ventricle of individual athletes with the average values of the norm, their excess was found in 94.44% of athletes. The Odds ratio (OR) of the relationship between left ventricle diameter (LVd) and time of the exercise less than 10 y was 16.13, time of the exercise less than 5 y - 0.17 (p <0.05). OR of increase LVd to age less than 20 years was 3.56 units (p <0.05). The ejection fraction was above the normative mean in 75.93%, as well as the ratio of the periods of filling of the ventricles.
Conclusion: Conclusions: The most common sign of an athlete's heart development was left ventricular dilatation, which occurred at a rate of 25 percent. Age less than 20 years and the duration of sports activities from 5 to 10 years is associated with a higher frequency of the athlete's heart.
Keywords: Athlete heart; function; left ventricle; physical exercises.