Abstract
Background: The right ventricular (RV) area is important for screening, diagnosis and follow-up in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Aim of this study was to define the distribution of RV area in healthy adults and to assess determining factors.
Methods: A prospective study (n=860) investigating healthy adults was combined with a meta-analysis including all studies between 1979 and 2012 describing RV area in healthy subjects and endurance athletes (n=3942). Statistical analysis included the calculation of the weighted means and weighted standard deviations and analysis of determining factors.
Results: In the prospective study mean RV areas of endurance athletes (25.1±2.0 cm2; n=395) were significantly larger than of non-athletes (16.7±2.0 cm2; n=210; p<0.001). Significant differences were also seen between strength (22.9±1.7cm2; n=255) and endurance-athletes (p<0.001). The significant influence of training status on RV area was confirmed by the results from the meta-analysis. Further determining factors of RV area were age, gender and ethnicity. In the Meta-analysis the weighted mean value for Caucasians was 17.1±3.6cm² (males) vs. 13.9±3.2cm² (females; p<0.0001) and for Asians 15.9±3.8cm² (males), 13.0±3.0cm² (females; p<0.0001).
Conclusion: This is the largest data set to define RV size in healthy adult subjects (<50 years). The RV area was determined by body surface area, gender, age, ethnicity and training status. Reference values should be used gender specific and under consideration of the determining factors. Further studies in subjects aged >50 years as well as children and patients suffering from PAH are needed to define reference values for RV area.
- © 2014 ERS
