Correlação entre função diastólica e potência aeróbica em atletas de futebol profissional

Introducao: O alto consumo maximo de oxigenio (V'O2max) dos atletas deve-se as adaptacoes perifericas, e principalmente miocardicas, relacionadas ao treinamento. Embora as modificacoes estruturais do coracao do atleta, associadas a essas adaptacoes, sejam bem conhecidas, ha limitadas informacoes sobre o papel da funcao ventricular como preditor da capacidade de exercicio. Objetivo: Identificar indices de avaliacao de potencia aerobica maxima em jogadores profissionais de futebol, a partir da analise da funcao diastolica a ecocardiografia de repouso. Metodos: Estudo prospectivo envolvendo 66 jogadores profissionais e 39 individuos nao atletas (controles) submetidos a exame ecocardiografico para analise de parâmetros da funcao diastolica em repouso [velocidades diastolicas iniciais (E e E'), velocidade diastolica final (A) e relacoes E/A e E/E'] e a teste ergometrico ate a exaustao para analise do V'O2max. Resultados: Os atletas apresentaram maior relacao E/A (p= 0,008) e menor velocidade de A (p= 0,023), quando comparados com os nao atletas. Houve correlacao do V'O2max com a velocidade de A (r= -0,268; p= 0,037) e E' (r= 0,306; p= 0,018) nos atletas e com a relacao E/A nos atletas (r= 0,314; p= 0,014) e nos nao atletas (r= 0,347; p= 0,036). Apos regressao linear multipla, apenas a relacao E/A mostrou contribuicao independente para o V'O2max. Conclusao: O V'O2max em atletas de futebol esta relacionado a alguns parâmetros ecocardiograficos em repouso, sendo a relacao E/A o unico preditor independente da potencia aerobica maxima neste grupo. Introduction: High maximal oxygen uptake (V'O2max) in athletes is attributed to peripheral and especially myocardial adaptations to physical training. Structural changes in the “athlete's heart,” associated with these adjustments, are well known. However, there is limited information on the role of ventricular function as a predictor of exercise capacity. Objective: This study aimed to identify indexes for the assessment of maximal aerobic power in professional soccer players based on the analysis of diastolic function on echocardiography at rest. Methods: This prospective study involved 66 professional soccer players and 39 non-athletes (controls) who underwent echocardiographic examination for analysis of diastolic function parameters at rest [early diastolic velocities (E and E'), late diastolic velocity (A), and E/A and E/E' ratios] and exercise test to exhaustion for analysis of V'O2max. Results: Athletes had higher E/A ratio (p= 0.008) and lower A velocity (p= 0.023) when compared with non-athletes. There was a correlation of V'O2max with A (r= -0.268, p= 0.037) and E' (r= 0.306, p= 0.018) velocities in athletes and with E/A ratio in both athletes (r= 0.314, p= 0.014) and non-athletes (r= 0.347, p= 0.036). After multiple regression analysis, only E/A ratio had an independent contribution to V'O2max. Conclusions: V'O2max in soccer players is related to some echocardiographic parameters at rest. E/A ratio was the only independent predictor of maximal aerobic power in this group. These findings may contribute to the assessment of aerobic fitness and provide information that may be applied to training in order to improve the performance of athletes during sports activities.