Normal Values of Myocardial Deformation Assessed by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in a Healthy Chinese Population: A Multicenter Study

Reference values on atrial and ventricular strain from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) are essential in identifying patients with impaired atrial and ventricular function. However, reference values have not been established for Chinese subjects. One hundred and fifty healthy volunteers (75 Males/75 Females; 18–82 years) were recruited. All underwent CMR scans with images acceptable for further strain analysis. Subjects were stratified by age: Group 1, 18–44 years; Group 2, 45–59 years; Group 3, ≥60 years. Feature tracking of CMR cine imaging was used to obtain left atrial global longitudinal (LA E(ll)) and circumferential strains (LA E(cc)) and respective systolic strain rates, left ventricular longitudinal (LV E(ll)), circumferential (LV E(cc)) and radial strains (LV E(rr)) and their respective strain rates, and right ventricular longitudinal strain (RV E(ll)) and strain rate. LA E(ll) and LA E(cc) were 32.8 ± 9.2% and 40.3 ± 13.4%, respectively, and RV E(ll) was −29.3 ± 6.0%. LV E(ll), LV E(cc) and LV E(rr) were −22.4 ± 2.9%, −24.3 ± 3.1%, and 79.0 ± 19.4%, respectively. LV E(ll) and LV E(cc) were higher in females than males (P < 0.05). LA E(ll), LA E(cc), and LV E(cc) decreased, while LV E(rr) increased with age (P < 0.05). LV E(ll) and RV E(ll) were not shown to be associated with age. Normal ranges for atrial and ventricular strain and strain rates are provided using CMR feature tracking in Chinese subjects.