M‐mode echocardiographic findings in apparently healthy, non‐athletic Norwegians aged 20–70 years. Influence of age, sex and body surface area

Abstract

In order to assess M-mode echocardiographic recordings in a normal Norwegian population, 190 apparently healthy subjects (95 women and 95 men) aged 21–69 years were examined with an Irex Meridian system. Measurements were performed according to criteria recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography. Absolute values for all parameters except for left ventricular (LV) shortening fraction (SF) were greater in men (P < 0.001). When corrected for body surface area (BSA), the differences between the two genders were far less pronounced. Women had greater left atrium (LA) (P < 0.01) and LV end-diastolic diameter (EDD) (P < 0.001), whereas the interventricular septum in end-diastole (IVS-ED) (P < 0.05) and LV posterior wall (PW) in ED (P < 0.001) were thicker in men. Only weak correlations between age and the various echocardiographic parameters with r-values ≤ 0.30 were observed. It is recommended that BSA corrected values should be preferred since the differences between men and women are negligible. When absolute values are used, different normal ranges for both sexes should be applied.