ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ESTIMATE OF RIGHT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC PRESSURE INCREASES NORMALLY WITH AGE

DW Armstrong, DD Brouillard, MF Matangi
Kingston, Ontario

It is our contention that the echocardiographic (ECHO) estimate of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) increases progressively and normally with age.
METHODS: All patients (P) undergoing ECHO since 1999 at the Kingston Heart Clinic have had their data entered into a comprehensive cardiology database, CARDIOfile. Of 13.941 P 4552 P had RVSP measured. For all ECHO estimates of RVSP 10mmHg was added for the mean right atrial pressure. All P with an RVSP of >49mmHg were excluded as were P with other major ECHO abnormalities. Following exclusions 2006 P were left for the analysis. P ages ranged from 17-99 years. Median age was 70 years. There were 1393 females and 613 males. P were divided into those 59 years (n=1389).
RESULTS: For those P <60 years the mean ± SD for the RVSP was 29.1 ± 5.6 mmHg as compared to 33.7 ± 6.6mmHg for those above 59 years, (p<0.0001 using an unpaired Student's T-Test). RVSP increased progressively with age. Age 74 years (n=785) 34.6 ± 6.7.
CONCLUSIONS: RVSP in P with normal ECHO increases progressively with age. For P over the age of 75 years an RVSP of up to 41 mmHg is normal. For the P aged 25 years or less the upper limit of normal is 31 mmHg. These data suggest that the normal RVSP is an age specific finding and that currently accepted normal RVSP is inaccurate for those P under age 26 years and over age 75 years.