Recent studies have reported on an association between endurance sport, atrial enlargement and the development of lone atrial fibrillation in younger, male cohorts. The atrial morphology and function of middle-aged, physically-active males and females have not been well studied. We hypothesized that middle-aged males would demonstrate larger left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) volumes compared to females, but atrial function would not differ. LA and RA volume and function were evaluated at rest in healthy adults, using a standardized 3.0Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance protocol. Physical activity, medical history, and maximal oxygen consumption () were also assessed. Physically-active, middle-aged men (n = 60; 54 ± 5 years old) and women (n = 30; 54 ± 5 years old) completed this study. Males had a higher body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and than females (p < .05 for all), despite similar reported physical activity levels. Absolute and BSA and height-indexed LA and RA maximum volumes were higher in males relative to females, despite no differences in ejection fractions (p < .05 for all). In multivariable regression, male sex p < .001) and (p = .004) were predictors of LA volume (model R² = 0.252), whereas (p < .001), male sex (p = .03), and RV EF (p < .05) were predictors of RA volume (model R² = 0.377). While middle-aged males exhibited larger atrial volumes relative to females, larger, prospective studies are needed to explore the magnitude of physiologic atrial remodeling and functional adaptations in relation to phenotypic factors.

中文翻译：

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中年、身体活跃的男性和女性的心房结构和功能：心脏磁共振研究

最近的研究报告了在年轻男性群体中耐力运动、心房扩大和孤立性心房颤动的发展之间的关联。中年、身体活跃的男性和女性的心房形态和功能尚未得到很好的研究。我们假设与女性相比，中年男性的左心房 (LA) 和右心房 (RA) 容积更大，但心房功能不会有所不同。使用标准化的 3.0Tesla 心脏磁共振协议评估健康成人在休息时的 LA 和 RA 体积和功能。还评估了体力活动、病史和最大耗氧量 ( )。身体活跃的中年男性 ( n  = 60; 54 ± 5 岁) 和女性 ( n = 30; 54 ± 5 岁）完成了这项研究。 尽管报告的体力活动水平相似，但男性的体重指数、收缩压高于女性（所有p < .05）。尽管射血分数没有差异（全部p  < .05），但男性的绝对和 BSA 以及身高指数 LA 和 RA 最大容积高于女性。在多变量回归中，男性p  < .001) 和( p  = .004) 是 LA 体积的预测因子（模型R ²  = 0.252），而（p  < .001）、男性（p  = .03）和 RV EF ( p  < .05) 是 RA 体积的预测因子（模型R ²  = 0.377)。虽然中年男性相对于女性表现出更大的心房容积，但需要更大规模的前瞻性研究来探索与表型因素相关的生理性心房重塑和功能适应的程度。