Normal values of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in a healthy Japanese population: The JAMP-3D study

Background: The recently developed real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) is a promising imaging method to quantify cardiac chamber volumes and their functions in clinical practice. However, normal reference values of RT3DE parameters have not been fully investigated in a large, healthy Japanese population. Methods and Results: This study consisted of 410 healthy subjects aged from 20 to 69 years who had a RT3DE at one of the 23 collaborating institutions. All subjects had no history of cardiac disease and no risk factors. The mean values in men and women were as follows: 50±12 ml/m ² and 46±9 ml/m ² for left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume index, 19±5 ml/m ² and 17±4 ml/m ² for end-systolic volume index, 61±4% and 63±4% for ejection fraction, 64±12 g/m ² and 56±11 g/m ² for mass index, 23±6 ml/m ² and 24±6 ml/m ² for left atrial (LA) maximum volume index, 10±3 ml/m ² and 10±3 ml/m ² for minimum volume index, and 58±6% and 58±6% for percent volume change. LV sizes decreased with age, whereas LV mass index did not change. LA sizes slightly increased with age. Conclusions: This multicenter investigation determined normal reference values for LV and LA sizes, and their functional parameters on RT3DE in a large, healthy Japanese population. The results of the present study support the use of RT3DE for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease.