LEFT ATRIAL VOLUME INDEX IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS: CLINICAL AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC CORRELATES

Objective: To evaluate normal reference ranges for LAVi in Pakistani population with 2D echocardiography (2DE). Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Cardiology Department of Doctors Hospital and Medical Center, Lahore from 1st February 2014 to 31st April 2016. Healthy subjects of either gender, free from cardiovascular and renal disease were included. Normal reference ranges were established using non parametric approach, which involves establishing the values falling at the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles of the population as the lower and upper reference limits. Results: Total of 103 subjects were included. Mean age of subjects was 30.81 +/- 8.77 years. Mean LAVi was 21.96 +/- 4.189 ml/m(2) with minimum of 10 ml/m(2) and maximum of 30 ml/m(2). Normal reference range estimated by non-parametric method (2.5 and 97.5 percentiles) in our population was 13-28 ml/m(2) Mean value of LAVi in females was 21.00 ml/m(2) (range 13-30) and in males it was 22.33 ml/m(2) (range 10-28). In the age group less than 40 years, mean LAVi was 21.7 ml/m(2) (range 10-30). In more than 40 years of age it was 23.14 ml/m(2) (range 15-28). Conclusion: The present study established normal ranges for left atrial volume index (LAVi) in our population for both the genders and shows that normality in our population is different from that of other ethnicities.