Echocardiographic measurements in normal subjects: evaluation of an adult population without clinically apparent heart disease.

In order to determine normal echocardiographic values for older subjects, we studied 136 adults (78 men and 58 women, 20 to 97 years of age) without evidence of cardiovascular disease. When patients were subdivided into six age groups, progressive changes were found in mean normal values for various parameters. Specifically, when the oldest group (over 70 years) was compared with the youngest group (21-30 years), significant (p less than 0.01) increases in aortic root (22 percent) and left atrial (16 percent) dimensions, in ventricular septal (20 percent) and left ventricular free-wall (18 percent) thicknesses, and in estimated left ventricular mass (15 percent) were noted. In addition, a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in mean mitral E-F slope (43 percent) and slight decreases in mean left ventricular systolic and diastolic internal dimensions (5 and 6 percent, respectively; p less than 0.05) were noted. Left ventricular ejection fraction and percentage fractional shortening were found to be independent of age. These data have been used to derive regression equations that are related to both age and body surface area. The regression equations can be used to calculate mean normal values and 95 percent prediction intervals for echocardiographic measurements in adults.