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.

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.

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

The study population includes recreational and competitive athletes aged 10 years and older who consulted the Sports Medicine Department at Caen University Hospital for a routine pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation, and who underwent focused cardiac ultrasound of the ascending aorta as part of a standardized screening protocol.