Distinguishing athlete's heart from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Increased chamber dimensions seemed to characterize the athletes in a recent study:

We studied athletes and patients with HC with borderline LV hypertrophy (13 to 15 mm).

Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were compared.

LV cavity less than 54 mm distinguished HC from athlete's heart with the highest sensitivity and specificity.

Athletes were characterized by larger left atria compared with patients with HC.

Also, diastolic functional parameters, electrocardiography, and family history proved useful in the differential diagnosis.