The Influence of Menopausal Status on Myocardial Stiffness and Exercise Capacity Among Female Masters Endurance Athletes.

Mayo Clinic48 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this research is to study postmenopausal female masters athletes to see if they will show greater myocardial stiffness and reduced exercise capacity than premenopausal females and similarly aged male masters athletes.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Myocardial Stiffness

Interventions

Stress EchocardiogramDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Exercise testing via treadmill with simultaneous gas exchange analysis and pre- and post-exercise transthoracic echocardiography.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Imaging (cMRI)DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Non-invasive imaging scan used to examine function and structure of the heart

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Elastography (cMRE)DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Non-invasive imaging scan used to measure myocardial stiffness

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 YearsMax age: 70 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Longstanding history of competitive endurance athletic performance defined as \>15 years of continuous athletic training for at least 7 hours per week and ongoing engagement in competitive events. Exclusion Criteria: * A current or prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease as defined by the presence of structural heart disease, heart failure, symptomatic coronary artery disease, more than moderate valve disease or prior valve surgery, * Current or recent pregnancy within 1 year * Positive pregnancy test (study visit 1) * Concurrent or use within 1 year of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, * Unable to undergo a cMRI (Please refer standard clinical contraindications for MRI)

Locations (1)

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Myocardial stiffness

Myocardial stiffness will be measured by magnetic resonance elastography (kPa)

Time frame: Day 14

Secondary Outcomes

Left ventricular filling pressures with exercise

Left ventricular filling pressures with exercise will be measured by stress echocardiography

Time frame: Baseline

Exercise capacity

Exercise capacity will be measured by stress echocardiography

Time frame: Baseline

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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