Subclinical myocardial dysfunction detected by speckletracking in asymptomatic individuals with exerciseinduced premature ventricular complexes.

OBJECTIVE

Exercise-induced premature ventricular complexes (EI-PVCs) are key indicators of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and elevated cardiovascular risk. However, their clinical significance and prognostic value remain unclear, particularly in asymptomatic individuals without structural heart disease. This study uses advanced echocardiographic techniques to investigate the relationship between EI-PVCs and subclinical myocardial dysfunction.

METHODS

An observational case-control study was conducted with 141 participants (82 controls and 59 cases). Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) was utilized to assess myocardial function, including global longitudinal strain (GLS).

RESULTS

Participants with exerciseinduced PVCs exhibited significantly greater left ventricular mass index (80.1 ± 15.7 vs. 74.3 ± 12.7 g/m²; p = 0.035), markedly reduced global longitudinal strain (-19.6 ± 2.0% vs. - 22.2 ± 1.4%; p < 0.001), and elevated myocardial performance index (0.42 ± 0.07 vs. 0.38 ± 0.06; p = 0.002) compared to controls, despite similar conventional systolic parameters.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights EI-PVCs as early markers of subclinical myocardial dysfunction, warranting detailed echocardiographic evaluation in affected individuals. The findings. underscore the need for further research into the burden, morphology, and patterns of EI-PVCs to refine cardiovascular risk stratification and management strategies.