Left Ventricular Mass in Healthy Subjects of the City of Buenos Aires and its Correlation with Anthropometric Measurements

pp. 486-492

Abstract

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a risk predictor of cardiovascular events. The objectives of this study were to establish reference values for left ventricular mass in an apparently healthy population of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires,  to analyze its correlation with age and anthropometric variables and to define the best way to express the assessed data.
Left ventricular mass was estimated using internationally supported echocardiographic methods (American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Echocardiography) and the adjusted Devereux equation. After applying strict exclusion criteria, 1898 subjects with mean age of 38 ± 11 years, 48.89% of whom were male and 51.1% were female, were included in the study. Left ventricular mass was 155 ± 30 g for men (95th percentile 206 g) with normal distribution, and 112 ± 24 g for women (95th percentile 153 g) with non-normal distribution (p < 0.001 between genders).
Values were comparable to those reported in studies using a similar methodology. Left ventricular mass index showed a moderate correlation with body surface area and weight, and significant differences between genders. As calculated variables exhibited heterogeneity in data distribution (normal or non-normal), the 95th percentile was assumed as the best way of expressing reference values. In conclusion, estimated reference values of left ventricular  mass in a healthy population moderately correlated with body surface area and weight. We propose the use of the 95th percentile to express the upper reference value of the assessed data.