Two-Dimensional Echocardiographic Right Ventricular Size and Systolic Function Measurements Stratified by Sex, Age, and Ethnicity: Results of the World Alliance of Societies of Echocardiography Study.
- 2021
Available online through MWHC library: 2007 - present
BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) systolic function is an important component of clinical decision-making. While societal guidelines have worked to define normal ranges of RV size and function, they have not included the impact of age, sex and ethnicity on these parameters, as they have for the left ventricle. The World Alliance of Societies of Echocardiography (WASE) study was designed to investigate the effect of age, sex and ethnicity on all cardiac chambers. In this study, we sought to explore whether these differences exist for RV systolic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that while 2D RV parameters are age- and sex-dependent, association with race is less apparent, excepting that the Asian population appears to have smaller chamber sizes when compared with whites and blacks. Copyright (c) 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc. METHODS: Adequate 2D RV focused-views for measurement of systolic parameters, including fractional area change (FAC), global and free-wall longitudinal strain (GLS, FWS) were available in 1913 subjects (47+/-17 years; 51% male). Basal and mid-RV dimensions, length, tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE), tissue Doppler S' velocity and myocardial performance index (MPI) were also measured. Subjects were grouped by age (<40, 41-65, >65 years), with results also stratified by sex and ethnicity (Asian, Black or White) and analyzed using vendor-independent software. Differences between groups were evaluated using ANOVA. RESULTS: Women had smaller absolute and indexed RV areas, absolute RV dimensions and higher magnitude FAC, FWS and GLS, compared to men. With respect to age, most of the statistically significant differences were noted between the <40 and >65 age groups, with RV areas and length smaller in older age groups and RV functional parameters (S', FAC, TAPSE, GLS, FWS and MPI) showing minimal decrease or no change with age. While there were no meaningful differences in functional parameters between ethnic groups, RV size was smallest in Asians.