CMR reference values for left ventricular volumes, mass, and ejection fraction using computer-aided analysis: the...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Establishing normative reference values for cardiovascular parameters is crucial for accurate clinical assessment.
• Previous studies may lack comprehensive sex-specific and age-stratified data for left ventricular (LV) metrics.
• Computer-aided analysis offers potential for precise quantification of cardiac structures and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine sex-specific reference values for left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass, and ejection fraction (EF) in healthy adults.
• To utilize computer-aided analysis for precise LV parameter quantification.
• To investigate the influence of age on these LV parameters.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort (n=1494).
• Identification of a healthy reference group using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with short-axis cine SSFP.
• Determination of sex-specific 95th percentile thresholds for LV volumes/mass and 5th percentile for EF via computer-assisted border detection.
• Secondary analysis stratifying by age-decade to test for linear trends.

Main Results:

• Men exhibited greater LV volumes and mass compared to women, even after body size indexation (P=0.001).
• Women demonstrated a higher LV ejection fraction (EF) (73% vs. 71%, P=0.0002).
• LV volumes decreased with age in both sexes; indexed LV mass showed no age variation. LV EF and concentricity increased with age.

Conclusions:

• This study provides novel CMR-derived reference values for LV parameters in a healthy adult population.
• Significant sex differences exist in LV volumes, mass, and EF.
• Age significantly impacts LV volumes, EF, and geometry, but not indexed LV mass.