Factors of importance to Doppler indices of left ventricular filling in 50-year-old healthy subjects

Age is an important determinant of Doppler indices of left ventriculardiastolic filling in normal subjects. To define reference valuesand factors of importance to Doppler indices of left ventricularfilling in subjects of similar age, 58 men and 76 women aged50 years underwent Doppler echocardiography. All those takingpart in the study were healthy. When gender was analysed ina multivariate model it showed a significant independent correlationwith the peak velocity of early diastolic filling (E wave) (P<0·00l)and the early to atrial peak velocity (E/A) ratio (P<0·0l).The peak E wave velocity was 0·75±0·11m . s^–1 vs 0·66±0·10 m . s^–1(P<0·0O1) and the E/A ratio was 1·24±0·25vs 1·14±0·20 (P<0·05) in womenand men, respectively. In multivariate analyses, heart rate,diastolic blood pressure and body mass index correlated independentlywith the E/A ratio in women (P<0·00l for all), whereasin men, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, body mass indexand left ventricular diameter correlated independently withthe E/A ratio (P<0·00l for all). Doppler measurementsof left ventricular filling in 50-year-old healthy subjectsshowed a wide variation and were significantly associated withheart rate, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and gender.