Study of Minor Echocardiographic Indices of Cardiac Systolic Function in Subjects with Normal Ejection Fraction and Correlation with Age

Abstract

Many echocardiographic parameters should be added to traditional cardiac examination beside the EF (ejection fraction) as some conditions are with subclinical systolic dysfunction in spite of normal EF. To study the minor echocardiographic cardiac systolic function indices in subjects with normal ejection fraction and correlation with age.Sixty five healthy subjects with normal resting ejection fraction were involved in this study. They were divided into two age groups, group1: 40 subjects with age range (20-39) year and group2: 25 subjects with age range (40-60) year. Measurement of stroke volume index, pre ejection period, left ventricular ejection time and pre ejection period / ventricular ejection time ratio were done. There were no significant difference of stroke volume index, pre ejection period, ventricular ejection time , and pre ejection period / ventricular ejection time ratio of the two age groups. Correlation study between stroke volume index and ventricular ejection time show significant positive correlation (r=0.5478, p<0.05) and negative correlation with pre ejection period but statistically nonsignificant (r=-0.0111,p>0.05) . Correlation study between stroke volume index and pre ejection period / ventricular ejection time ratio was negative correlation but statistically nonsignificant (r= -0.2139,p>0.05). Minor echocardiographic indices of cardiac systolic function (systolic time periods) during routine echocardiographic examination are effortless and informative and not affected by aging and should be added to traditional cardiac examination beside the ejection fraction as some conditions are with subclinical systolic dysfunction in spite of normal EF.