There has been much need for standard normal values of echocardiographic indices in Korea. Echocardiography Council of the Korean Society of Circulation performed multicenter trial for estimation of normal values of echocardiographic indices.

In 19 university or general hospitals, echocardiographic specialists measured frequently used echocardiographic indices with the same method in healthy people. The measured indices were 36 items which involved M-mode, 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic parameters. All the results were recorded on video tapes and reviewed by the review committee. The results were included for analysis only if the review committee accepted them.

Total 371 healthy people were included. There were 189 women. Their age ranged from 3rd decades to 8th decades. Complete measurement of all the indices was done in 225 people. Left ventricular wall thickness, aorta size, left atrial size and left ventricular mass in M-mode echocardiographic measurement changed significantly with the increase of age (p<0.005). In 2-dimensional echocardiographic examination, sinotubular junction diameter of the aorta, anteroposterior & superoinferior diameters of left atrium, both ventricular outflow tract diameter and main pulmonary artery diameter changed with the increase of age (p<0.01). Diastolic dysfunction became prominent with the increase of age in Doppler examination.

We conclude that these data could be used as the standard criteria for echocardiographic examination in Korea. However, age factor should be considered when they are applied because many echocardiographic indices change significantly with the increase of age.