J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2009 Jun;17(2):54-59. 10.4250/jcu.2009.17.2.54.

Left Ventricular Sphericity Index in Asymptomatic Population

• Choi JH
• Sung J

• KMID: 2135445
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2009.17.2.54

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Left ventricular (LV) remodeling manifests as an increase in LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, an increase in myocardial mass, and a change in chamber geometry to a more spherical shape, and has been considered to be a consequence of heart failure, myocardial infarction or mitral regurgitation. However, less is known about change of LV geometry, especially LV sphericity, in asymptomatic population according to aging.
METHODS
We investigated 261 asymptomatic subjects who volunteered for health screening and underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Those with poor echo image, significant coronary artery disease, LV dysfunction, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were excluded. LV sphericity index is defined as the ratio of the long-axis length divided by LV short-axis length, both during systole and diastole. LV mass was calculated from septal and posterior wall thickness and LV internal dimension at end-diastole and then divided by body surface area to calculate LV mass index
RESULTS
The mean age of subjects was 49.6+/-6.7 years and the percentage of male was 81%. LV sphericity index at diastole showed significant correlation with age (r=-0.17, p value<0.01), but LV sphericity index at systole did not. Both indices did not showed significant association with aerobic fitness, blood pressure, glucose, insulin resistance and LV function. LV mass index showed significant correlation with age (r=0.14, p value<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Among the parameters of LV geometry, sphericity index showed decrease with aging in healthy population, meaning LV becoming more spherical with aging. Longitudinal follow-up study is needed to determine its usefulness as a predictor of future LV dysfunction in asymptomatic population.

Keyword

LV sphericity index; Aging; Asymptomatic population

MeSH Terms

Aging
Blood Pressure
Body Surface Area
Coronary Artery Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Diastole
Echocardiography
Glucose
Heart Failure
Humans
Hypertension
Insulin Resistance
Male
Mass Screening
Mitral Valve Insufficiency
Myocardial Infarction
Systole
Glucose

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Left ventricle sphericity index at diastole showed significant correlation with age (r=-0.17, p value<0.01).

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  Fig. 2 Left ventricle mass index showed significant correlation with age (r=0.14, p value<0.05).

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