Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Left ventricular mass is underestimated in overweight children because of incorrect body size variable chosen for
Hubert Krysztofiak1,2, Marcel Młyńczak3, Łukasz A Małek4
1Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Background:
Left ventricular mass normalization for body size is recommended, but a question remains: what is the best body size variable for this normalization-body surface area, height or lean body mass computed based on a predictive equation? Since body surface area and computed lean body mass are derivatives of body mass, normalizing for them may result in underestimation of left ventricular mass in overweight children. The aim of this study is to indicate which of the body size variables normalize left ventricular mass without underestimating it in overweight children.
Methods:
Left ventricular mass assessed by echocardiography, height and body mass were collected for 464 healthy boys, 5-18 years old. Lean body mass and body surface area were calculated. Left ventricular mass z-scores computed based on reference data, developed for height, body surface area and lean body mass, were compared between overweight and non-overweight children. The next step was a comparison of paired samples of expected left ventricular mass, estimated for each normalizing variable based on two allometric equations-the first developed for overweight children, the second for children of normal body mass.
Results:
The mean of left ventricular mass z-scores is higher in overweight children compared to non-overweight children for normative data based on height (0.36 vs. 0.00) and lower for normative data based on body surface area (-0.64 vs. 0.00). Left ventricular mass estimated normalizing for height, based on the equation for overweight children, is higher in overweight children (128.12 vs. 118.40); however, masses estimated normalizing for body surface area and lean body mass, based on equations for overweight children, are lower in overweight children (109.71 vs. 122.08 and 118.46 vs. 120.56, respectively).
Conclusion:
Normalization for body surface area and for computed lean body mass, but not for height, underestimates left ventricular mass in overweight children.
More Related Videos
07:55Echocardiographic Characterization of Left Ventricular Structure, Function, and Coronary Flow in Neonate Mice
Published on: April 7, 2022
09:05Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
Published on: October 20, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:12Reduced Mass Coordinates: Isolated Two-body Problem
02:32Variation: Normal Distribution, Range, and Standard Deviation
01:11Variability: Analysis
The range is a simple measure of variability, indicating the difference between the highest and...
01:09Random Variables
Uppercase letters such as X or Y denote a random variable. Lowercase letters like x or y denote the value of a random variable. If X is a random variable, then X is written in words, and x is given as a number.
For example, let X = the...
01:26Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
01:19Normal Stress
When a rod is under axial loading, the internal forces and corresponding stress are normal to the plane of the section, so it is termed normal stress. It's important to...