•  
  •  
 

Publication Date

11-6-2017

Keywords

aorta, sinus of Valsalva, age, height, weight, imaging, epidemiology, echocardiography

Abstract

Background: Prior studies show ascending aorta diameter varies with age, height and weight, but they did not evaluate relative influence of these variables on aortic diameter. Since height is genetically determined, and genetic disorders like Marfan syndrome are predominantly associated with sinus of Valsalva (SOV) dilation, we hypothesized height may have stronger association with SOV.

Purpose: Based on anecdotal observation, since age, weight and obesity are acquired attributes, we hypothesized age, weight and body mass index may have greater association with mid-ascending aorta (MAA) diameter, even in normal patients.

Methods: We evaluated echocardiographic studies of patients ≥ 15 years old that were done in the last 4 years to measure SOV and MAA diameter in normal patients (defined as: medical records and echocardiograms did not reveal any of the 28 aortic dilation risk factors listed in the American Heart Association 2010 guidelines).

Results: Of 65,843 patients, 3,201 were identified as normal. SOV measurements were available in 2,046, MAA in 2,334. Age had stronger correlation with MAA (β = 0.50; r = 0.52; P < 0.001) than SOV (β = 0.33; r = 0.35; P < 0.001). Weight was similarly correlated with diameters of SOV (r = 0.37; P < 0.001) and MAA (r = 0.37; P < 0.001). Height had stronger correlation with SOV diameter (β = 0.41; r = 0.38; P < 0.001) than MAA (β = 0.26; r = 0.25; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: These data suggest that in normal subjects, age, weight and body mass index have stronger associations with the mid-ascending aorta, whereas height has a stronger association with the sinus of Valsalva.

Share

COinS
 

Submitted

November 1st, 2017

Accepted

November 2nd, 2017

 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.