[Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac basal hypertrophy represented by increased base to mid thickness ratio (B/M ratio) in the ventricular septum and its relation to age].

The basal part of the interventricular septum may easily become hypertrophic because it is exposed to strong hemodynamic stress compared to the other portions of the left ventricle. We measured the end-diastolic interventricular wall thickness both at the base and in the midsection by 2D echocardiography in 122 normotensives, and examined whether the basal thickness increases with age. The basal thickness (B) increased with age in both sexes. In males the thickness averaged 10.1 mm in the 50-59 age group, 10.2 m in those aged 60-69 and 11.4 mm (p < 0.01) in those 70 or older compared to 9.4 mm in those aged 49 or younger. In females it was 8.1 mm (p < 0.05) in the 50-59 age group, 8.3 mm (p < 0.05) in those aged 60-69 and 10.0 mm (p < 0.01) in those 70 or older compared to 6.8 mm in those 49 or younger. Concerning the midwall thickness (M), there were no significant changes among the respective age groups in either sex. As a result, a close correlation was found between the B/M ratio, a new and simple index for basal hypertrophy, and age (R = 0.46, p < 0.01 in males and R = 0.43, p < 0.01 in females). Comparison of the B/M ratio between the two age groups 49 or younger and 70 or older was as follows; 1.08 vs 1.30 (p < 0.01) in males and 1.01 vs 1.27 (p < 0.01) in females. Increase of basal hypertrophy in the aged was clearly indicated by the B/M ratio.