Derivation of new reference tables for human heart weights in light of increasing body mass index

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Anthropometry
• Forensic Pathology

Background:

• Increasing global body weights and body mass indices raise questions about the continued relevance of historical heart weight-to-body weight correlations.
• Previous reference data for heart weight may not accurately reflect current population anthropometrics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the correlation between heart weight and body weight in contemporary autopsy cases.
• To develop updated reference charts for heart weight using body surface area.
• To investigate the influence of aging on heart weight relative to body size.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of autopsy data from 384 cases without significant heart or lung disease.
• Collection of data on heart weight, body weight, height, gender, and age.
• Statistical analysis to determine correlations and distributions.

Main Results:

• Heart weight, body weight, and height exhibited normal distributions in both genders.
• Heart weight showed a slightly stronger correlation with body surface area than with body weight.
• The correlation between heart weight and body weight remained largely unchanged despite increased average body weights.
• A modest age-related increase in heart weight relative to body surface area was observed.

Conclusions:

• Current heart weight-to-body weight correlations remain valid, though body surface area offers a slightly better correlation.
• New reference charts are provided for contemporary populations.
• Age has a small but discernible effect on heart weight relative to body surface area, differing from some prior findings.