Reference ranges of echocardiographic measurements in the Dutch population.

Reference ranges for echocardiographic measurements were determined in 609 healthy Dutch subjects, using height, weight, age, sex, RR-interval and blood pressure (in adults only) as determinants. End-systolic as well as end-diastolic measurements of the aortic root as well as left ventricular inner diameter, posterior and septal thickness were taken, as was the left atrial end-systolic diameter. Multiple linear regression was performed of the form: M = A.(age)B.(height)C.(weight)D.(RR-interval)E.(sex)F. The residuals were calculated in order to determine the percentile limits by means of linear interpolation. Sex and weight were significant determinants in all the echocardiographic parameters studied. The results were presented twofold, with a simple version for males and females separately, using only weight as a determinant and allowing graphical presentation, and secondly a complex version taking into account all determinants, which can only be solved with help of a calculator.