Two-dimensional echocardiographic and strain values of the proximal thoracic aorta in a normal sub-Saharan African population.

Background: There is limited data regarding reference ranges for aortic dimensions in African populations. This study aims to establish normal reference ranges for echocardiographic dimensions and circumferential strain (CS) of the proximal thoracic aorta in a healthy sub-Saharan African population.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a prospective cross-sectional study of 88 participants conducted at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (2017-2019). Aortic measurements were obtained as per the 2015 American Society of Echocardiography guidelines using a Philips iE33 system. Circumferential Strain was measured using Philips QLAB version 11.0 software offline semi-automated analysis of speckle-based strain 2-D speckle-tracking software (Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

Results: Mean age was 37.22 ± 10.79 years (41% male). The mean diameter at the aortic annulus, sinuses, sino-tubular junction (STJ) and ascending aorta (AAO) were 19.11 ± 2.38 mm, 27.40 ± 6.11 mm, 25.32 ± 3.52 mm and 25.36 ± 3.38 mm, respectively. Males had larger absolute and indexed aortic diameters at all levels when compared to females. The mean aorta CS was 11.97 ± 5.05%. There was no significant difference in CS based on gender (12.19 ± 5.04% vs 11.51 ± 5.02%, P = 0.267). On multivariate linear regression analysis, male sex was the most significant predictor of increased diameter at the level of the aortic annulus (r = 0.17, P = 0.014), body surface area was the most significant predictor at the sinuses (r = 0.17, P = 0.014) and AAO (r = 0.30, P < 0.001), while age was the most significant predictor at the STJ (r = 0.27, P = 0.004). There was a negative correlation between age and aortic CS (r = - 0.12, P < 0.001). The most important predictor of aorta CS was age, on multivariate analysis (r = - 0.19, P = 0.024).

Conclusions: This study provides normal reference ranges for dimensions of the proximal aorta and circumferential strain (CS) in a sub-Saharan African population according to age, sex, and body habitus. It serves as a platform for future larger studies and allows for risk stratification of cardiovascular disease in an African population.