What determines echogenicity in a general population? The Tromsø Study.
BACKGROUND
It is widely recognized that in some people it is difficult or impossible to acquire adequate measurements of cardiac performance and anatomy by any echocardiographic technique. We used our population-based screening to determine the characteristics of such unmeasurable subjects.


METHODS
In a sample of 3287 subjects aged 25 to 85 years, we used standard 2-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography and pulsed and color Doppler to assess left ventricular (LV) structure and function.


RESULTS
Of 3287 subjects only 0.4% could not be measured by any technique. In 2794 subjects M-mode registrations of good quality were obtained, which allowed calculation of LV mass and LV ejection fraction. Those in whom measurements could not be obtained had a significantly higher age, body mass index, blood pressure, waist/hip ratio, and were more likely to smoke, be a man, be taking antihypertensive medication, have a history of ischemic heart disease, and have a low level of physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Because subjects with high cardiovascular risk factor levels are less likely to be measurable with echocardiography, a need exists for other noninvasive diagnostic methods in these persons.
Schirmer
H
H
Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway. henrik.schirmer@ism.uit.no
Lunde
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P
Rasmussen
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K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left