BACKGROUND It is unknown whether ethnic differences occur with regard to right heart echocardiographic parameters. The aim of this study therefore was to establish normative values of left and right heart parameters in a black African population and to evaluate the effect of age and body mass index (BMI) on specific right ventricle (RV) parameters. METHODS Two hundred fifty-three normal subjects were prospectively studied. A standardized echocardiographic examination was conducted with the RV focused view used to derive RV measurements. All left and right heart measurements were made in accordance with the American Society of Echocardiography 2015 chamber guideline recommendations. Right ventricle free wall strain was assessed using an RV focused apical four-chamber view. RESULTS The average age was 36.3 ± 12.2 years, and 59% of patients were female. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 62.3% ± 5.7%. The RV linear measurements (RV base, 31.0 ± 4.5 mm; midcavity, 26.3 ± 5.8 mm) were not associated with sex, age, or BMI except for the RV length (64.6 ± 8.9 mm), which was greater in male patients. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was 21.7 ± 2.8 mm, fractional area change was 42.1% ± 5.5%, tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity RV S' was 12.1 ± 1.9 m/sec, and RV free wall strain was -31.5% ± 8.6%. Age and BMI were not associated with right atrial (RA) volumetric measurements, RV linear measurements, or any RV functional parameters except TAPSE and RV A', which increased with BMI. CONCLUSIONS This study establishes normal left and right heart parameters in a black African population. Aging was not associated with RA or RV parameters except for RV E' and A'. BMI does not affect RA/RV measurements but may cause variability in TAPSE and RV A'.

中文翻译：

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正常非洲黑人人群左心和右心的超声心动图指数。

背景 右心超声心动图参数是否存在种族差异尚不清楚。因此，本研究的目的是建立非洲黑人人口左心和右心参数的规范值，并评估年龄和体重指数 (BMI) 对特定右心室 (RV) 参数的影响。方法 前瞻性研究了 253 名正常受试者。使用用于导出 RV 测量值的 RV 聚焦视图进行了标准化的超声心动图检查。所有左心和右心测量均按照美国超声心动图学会 2015 年心室指南建议进行。使用 RV 聚焦心尖四腔切面评估右心室游离壁应变。结果 平均年龄为 36.3 ± 12.2 岁，59% 的患者是女性。平均左心室射血分数为 62.3% ± 5.7%。RV 线性测量值（RV 基部，31.0 ± 4.5 毫米；中腔，26.3 ± 5.8 毫米）与性别、年龄或 BMI 无关，除了 RV 长度（64.6 ± 8.9 毫米），这在男性患者中更大。三尖瓣环平面收缩偏移 (TAPSE) 为 21.7 ± 2.8 mm，面积变化率为 42.1% ± 5.5%，三尖瓣环收缩期峰值速度 RV S' 为 12.1 ± 1.9 m/sec，RV 游离壁应变为 -31.5% ± 8.6%。年龄和 BMI 与右心房 (RA) 容积测量值、RV 线性测量值或除 TAPSE 和 RAV A' 以外的任何 RV 功能参数无关，这些参数随着 BMI 的增加而增加。结论 本研究在非洲黑人人群中建立了正常的左右心参数。除 RV E' 和 A' 外，衰老与 RA 或 RV 参数无关。BMI 不会影响 RA/RV 测量值，但可能会导致 TAPSE 和 RV A' 的变异性。