Normal reference values of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived mitral annular dimensions and functional properties in healthy adults: Insights from theMAGYAR-HealthyStudy

Introduction There is a limited number of echocardiographic studies determining mitral annular (MA) dimensions in healthy subjects. The present study aimed to establish normal reference values of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived MA dimensions and functional properties in healthy adults in relation with age and gender. Methods The present study comprised 298 healthy adult subjects. From this population, 94 subjects were excluded due to inadequate image quality. Therefore the remaining group consisted of 204 subjects with the mean age of 33.88 +/- 12.97 years (107 males). The population sample was further divided into age categories: 18-29 years (n = 105; mean age: 24.11 +/- 2.98 years, 51 males), 30-39 years (n = 44; mean age: 33.80 +/- 2.39 years, 31 males), 40-49 years (n = 19; mean age: 43.47 +/- 3.18 years, 11 males) and >= 50 years of age (n = 36, mean age: 57.42 +/- 6.11 years, 14 males). Results End-diastolic MA dimensions did not change significantly during the decades. End-systolic MA diameter, area, and perimeter were larger over the age of 50 years than in the 18-29 year-old group. MA fractional area change was found smaller over the age of 50 years than in 18-29-year-old group. While end-diastolic MA variables did not show gender-differences, end-systolic MA area and perimeter were lower in females in the 18-29-year-old group. Conclusions End-systolic MA dimensions change over decades, resulting in a special pattern of MA functional properties with significant reduction over the age of 50 years.