title: Reference Values for Echocardiography in Middle-Aged Population: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population and sex-specific reference limits produced with modern ultrasound equipment are needed for accurate clinical echocardiography diagnostics. We report a comprehensive set of reference limits of cardiac function and dimensions in a group of young and middle-aged Finnish men and women produced by the recommendations of European Society of Echocardiography and American Society of Cardiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiac structure and function was studied in a standardized comprehensive echocardiographic examination in 1,079 healthy volunteers without cardiovascular diseases or major known risk factors participating in the population-based Young Finns study (444 men and 635 women, age range 34 and 49 years). We present sex-specific reference values for echocardiographic parameters reflecting cardiac structure (ventricular and atrial dimensions and volumes, left ventricular wall thickness and mass, aortic root) and function. From the 86 measured parameters, only 7 were not statistically significantly different between sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Young Finns study provides echocardiographic reference ranges for cardiac structure and function quantification that can be utilized to enhance the accuracy or echocardiography diagnostics. The results emphasize the need for sex-specific assessment for most echocardiographic parameters.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Saku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruohonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Koskenvuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wendelin-Saarenhovi
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savontaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kähönen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.affiliation: Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital University, University Central Hospital Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jokinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.|Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juonala
authors.affiliation: Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taittonen
authors.affiliation: Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tossavainen
authors.affiliation: Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Raitakari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume
keywords: echocardiography; left atrium; left ventricular function; right atrium; right ventricle; tissue Doppler echocardiography