FACTORS OF IMPORTANCE TO DOPPLER INDEXES OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR FILLING IN 50-YEAR-OLD HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

Age is an important determinant of Doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic filling in normal subjects. To define reference values and factors of importance to Doppler indices of left ventricular filling i n subjects of similar age, 58 men and 76 women aged 50 years underwent Doppler echocardiography. All those taking part in the study were hea lthy. When gender was analysed in a multivariate model it showed a sig nificant independent correlation with the peak velocity of early diast olic filling (E wave) (P<0.001) and the early to atrial peak velocity (EIA) ratio (P<0.01). The peak E wave velocity was 0.75 +/- 0.11 m.s(- 1) vs 0.66 +/- 0.10 m.s(-1) (P<0.001) and the E/A ratio was 1.24 +/- 0 .25 vs 1.14 +/- 0.20 (P<0.05) in women and men, respectively. In multi variate analyses, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure and body mass i ndex correlated independently with the EIA ratio in women (P<0.001 for all), whereas in men, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and left ventricular diameter correlated independently with the EIA ratio (P<0.001 for all). Doppler measurements of left ventricular filling in 50-year-old healthy subjects showed a wide variation and w ere significantly associated with heart rate, diastolic blood pressure , body mass index and gender.