Influences of Body Size and Cardiac Workload on the Left Ventricular Mass in Healthy Korean Adults with Normal Body Weight and Blood Pressure

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The left ventricular mass is known to be influenced by both hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic factors. Body size and gender are the most representative non-hemodynamic factors. This study was performed to establish the influences of these variables on the variation of the left ventricular mass in healthy Korean adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 368 subjects (male=184, female=184), with a normal body mass index and blood pressure, were included in the echocardiographic analysis from the echocardiography database of the Hanyang University Hospital and of the Yangpyung Epidemiologic Survey 2004. The left ventricular mass was calculated using the equation 1.04x(IVSd+LVDd+PWTd)3-LDVs3)x0.8+0.6. The stroke volume was calculated (mL/beat) using Teichholz's formula. The stroke work (SW in gram-meters/beat [g-m/beat]) was computed as the cuff systolic BPxstroke volumex0.0144. RESULTS: The stroke work (SW) was the most important factor associated with the LV mass (adjusted R2=0.501, p<0.001), and body weight, age and gender were independent factors (adjusted R2=0.642). In a regression model, including stroke work, gender and height2.7, the LV mass was predicted by the equation 54.9+7.62xheight (m2.7)+0.67xSW (g-m/beat)-13.2xgender (male=1, female=2)(constant=54.9+/-14.7 g, adjusted R2=0.576, SEE=21.67, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: As with the studies in the western countries, the stroke work, gender and height2.7 were important determinants of the left ventricular mass in Korean adults with a normal weight and normal blood pressure.