Real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic left heart parameters in healthy indian adults

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac chamber dimensions are race and anthropometry dependent. We determined the age and gender specific 3-Dimensional echocardiographic (3DE) reference values for dimensions and function of left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) in normal Indian adults. METHODS: This single center prospective study enrolled 133 adult Indians free of heart disease and/or hypertensions, subjecting them to 3DE measurements of left atrial (LA) & left ventricular (LV) volumes, function and left ventricular mass (LVM). The higher limits of normal cut-offs were determined for these parameters and their dependency on age, gender and anthropometry were analyzed. RESULTS: The body surface area (BSA) corrected higher limit cut-offs were: 59.37 ml/m(2) for LV end diastolic volume (59.19 ml/m(2) and 59.61 ml/m(2) for men and women, respectively; P = NS); 23.48 ml/m(2) for LV end systolic volume (23.27 ml/m2 and 23.11 ml/m(2) for men and women, P = NS). Mean LVEF was 64.79% ± 7.26 (62.99% ± 6.51 and 67.05% ± 7.58 in men and women, P = NS). Men had higher LVM than women (119.79 g±23.95 vs. 103.26 g±23.76, P < 0.001), this difference disappeared after BSA indexing. The higher limit cut-offs for normal LA volumes were 20.49 ml for minimum volume (21.18 ml and 19.46 ml for men and women, P = NS) and 39.76 ml for maximum volume (39.60 ml and 40.03 ml in men and women, P = NS). The parameters were smaller compared to western populations but the differences attenuated after BSA indexing. CONCLUSIONS: The study reports normal 3DE parameters of size and function of left heart chambers in Indians.