Left ventricular morphological and functional predictors of VO₂peak: a three-year observational study

The aim of the study was to identify central determinants of VO₂peak using a three-year longitudinal evaluation of left ventricular (LV) morphological and functional (global, tissue-doppler and strain) outcome measures obtained at rest and during both submaximal and maximal exercise in a group of highly-trained male youth soccer players (SP) and recreationally active male participants (CON) Once a year for three years, measurements were obtained in both the SP-Year 1 (12.0 ± 0.3 years) and CON-Year 1 (11.7 ± 0.2 years). Cardiac ultrasound measures were used to identify LV morphological indices at rest and functional parameters during submaximal and maximal exercise. Training status (p < 0.0001) emerged as the only significant independent predictor of VO₂ peak, when considering LV morphological variables. At maximal exercise, early diastolic filling (E) was a significant (p=0.001) predictor of VO₂peak, irrespective of the influence of training status. Training status emerged as the significant predictor of VO₂peak across all models that were developed in this study. Minimal LV structural and functional adaptations at both rest and exercise influence VO₂peak; beyond the impact of training status alone. The broader implication of these findings is that the influence of LV cardiac adaptations on VO₂peak over time are mediated by the stimulus of training; this association occurs independently from the impact of growth and maturation on VO₂peak.