Cardiac remodeling may occur in case of intensive training. However, few are known concerning the long term cardiac effect of sport in veterans. The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac changes due to tennis practice in veterans.

The study population consisted in 353 subjects: 303 veteran tennis players (35 years) participating in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 veteran Roland-Garros tournaments and 50 healthy patients included in an age- and gender-matched control group. All subjects underwent a physical examination, a 12-lead electrocardiogram and a complete transthoracic echocardiography. Analysis was performed according to the decade of life, to the level of tennis training (intensive (> 10 hours/week) versus moderate training [T+ versus T−]) and to the Henry’s abacus.

Mean age was 55.6 ± 12.4 years (range: 35–80 years). Left ventricular and atrial parameters were significantly greater whatever the decade of life in tennis players as compared to the control group (p < 0.001), and in subjects T+ as compared to subjects T- and to the control group (p<0.005). Fifty-one male tennis players (40%) and 29 female tennis players (19%) presented with LV hypertrophy. Patterns of mitral inflow and pulmonary vein inflow were significantly different according to the decade of life (p < 0.0001), but no difference was observed between subjects T+, T− and control group. Echocardiographic parameters remained in physiological ranges whatever the decade of life and the intensity of training (Figure: in red for T+ and in yellow for T−. Grey and black lines represent the lowest and highest normal values according to the decade of life).

Long-term practice of tennis leads to cardiac remodeling. However, cardiac chamber size, systolic and diastolic function remains in physiological ranges whatever the decade of life and the intensity of training, suggesting that cardiac remodeling in veterans remains a physiological adaptation.