Prevalence of Ascending Aortic Dilation in Sports Medicine

This study aims to assess the prevalence of ascending aortic dilation in athletes from the general population undergoing routine sports medicine evaluation. It also evaluates the predictive factors and the reproducibility of focused cardiac ultrasound.

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Key information

Conditions

Aortic Aneurysm Aneurysm Aortic Diseases Athlete Cardiovascular Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

10 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

CHU de Caen Normandie

Caen, 14000, France

About this study

Ascending aortic dilation is a potentially serious and underdiagnosed cardiovascular condition, particularly in the context of physical activity. While its prevalence has been studied in elite athletes, little data is available regarding the general athletic population undergoing routine sports medicine evaluation. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ascending aortic dilation in a general population of recreational and competitive athletes.

This is an observational study conducted at the Sports Medicine Department of Caen University Hospital (France). The study will include athletes over the age of 10 who consult for a pre-participation medical evaluation. A focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) protocol targeting the ascending aorta will be systematically performed using a portable ultrasound device during routine clinical assessment. When indicated, a standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) will be used as the reference method for comparison.

The primary objective of the study is to estimate the prevalence of ascending aortic dilation in this population. The secondary objective is to explore potential predictive factors, including cardiovascular risk factors and exercise history.

This study may help clarify the utility of FCU as a screening tool in sports medicine and contribute to improved early detection of aortic abnormalities in apparently healthy, physically active individuals. Further research may be warranted to assess long-term cardiovascular outcomes in this population.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Individuals aged 10 years and older
Consulting for a pre-participation sports medicine evaluation at the Caen University Hospital
No known history of cardiovascular disease
Underwent a focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) of the ascending aorta as part of the consultation
Consent given for use of anonymized medical data for research purposes

Exclusion criteria

Previous diagnosis of aortic disease or cardiovascular malformation
Incomplete or non-interpretable FCU images
Existing cardiology follow-up with echocardiography less than 3 years old
Refusal to participate or opposition to data use

Treatment and study plan

focused cardiac ultrasound

Other

A focused cardiac ultrasound will be performed to measure the dimensions of ascending aorta

Primary outcomes

Prevalence of Ascending Aortic Dilation in Athletes

Time frame: Baseline

Proportion of athletes (recreational and competitive) identified with ascending aortic dilation, as determined by focused cardiac ultrasound. Dilation is defined as an aortic diameter ≥ 40 mm and/or a Z-score ≥ 2, according to age-adjusted reference values.

Secondary outcomes

Predictive Factors for Ascending Aortic Dilation

Time frame: Baseline

Association between ascending aortic dilation and clinical variables, including age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index, cardiovascular risk factors, and characteristics of physical activity

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Caen

Other

Registry information

Acronym: PRAADS

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Jul 3, 2025
Registry last updated: Jul 3, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed