Reference Ranges of Ventricular Morphology and Function in Healthy Chinese Adults: A Multicenter 3 T MRI Study

Abstract

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reference ranges for ventricular morphology and function in the Chinese population are lacking.PurposeTo establish the MRI reference ranges of left and right ventricular (LV and RV) morphology and function based on a large multicenter cohort.Study TypeProspective.PopulationOne thousand and twelve healthy Chinese Han adults.Field Strength/SequenceBalanced steady‐state free procession cine sequence at 3.0 T.AssessmentBiventricular end‐diastolic, end‐systolic, stroke volume, and ejection fraction (EDV, ESV, SV, and EF), LV mass (LVM), end‐diastolic and end‐systolic dimension (LVEDD and LVESD), anteroseptal wall thickness (AS), and posterolateral wall thickness (PL) were measured. Body surface area (BSA) and height were used to index biventricular parameters. Parameters were compared between age groups and sex.Statistical TestsIndependent‐samples t‐tests or Mann–Whitney U test to compare mean values between sexes; ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis test to compare mean values among age groups; linear regression to assess the relationships between cardiac parameters and age (correlation coefficient, r). A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe biventricular volumes, LVM, LVEDD, RVEDV/LVEDV ratio, LVESD, AS, and PL were significantly greater in males than in females, even after indexing to BSA or height, while LVEF and RVEF were significantly lower in males than in females. For both sexes, age was significantly negatively correlated with biventricular volumes (male and female: LVEDV [r = −0.491; r = −0.373], LVESV [r = −0.194; r = −0.184], RVEDV [r = −0.639; r = −0.506], RVESV [r = −0.270; r = −0.223]), with similar correlations after BSA normalization. LVEF (r = 0.043) and RVEF (r = 0.033) showed a significant correlation with age in females, but not in males (P = 0.889; P = 0.282).Data ConclusionMRI reference ranges for biventricular morphology and function in Chinese adults are presented and show significant associations with age and sex.Level of Evidence2Technical EfficacyStage 2