Normal values of echocardiographic parameters of apparently healthy adult Nigerians in Zaria.

The usefulness of echocardiography as a non invasive tool in the assessment of cardiac function is well established. Ninety two (54 males and 38 females) apparently healthy adult Nigerians were assessed echocardiographically to determine the normal values for the commonly measured parameters in our area of clinical practice. The mean age, body mass index (BMI), cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG - LVH) were 51.4 +/- 11.15 years, 23.85 +/- 4.91 kg/m2, 0.49 +/- 0.05, and 27.3 +/- 7.46 mm respectively. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure ('MAP) were 125.0 +/- 9.94, 79.7 +/- 6.23 and 94.7 +/- 6.54, mmHg respectively. While the results of the echocardiographic measurements followed the same pattern as other published reports from outside Nigeria especially with relation to age, there were still some differences in terms of absolute values. This emphasizes the need to have our own normal reference values. A multicenter study across the country involving much larger number of subjects is required to establish normal reference values for Nigeria.