Heart size ≥ 500 ml/m² was associated with a 4.6-fold higher risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to < 500 ml/m² in men with below-median physical fitness (RR 4.6; 95% CI 2.5-8.4; P<0.001).
Cohort (n=1,984)
Does increased heart size (≥ 500 ml.m-2) on routine chest X-ray predict cardiovascular mortality in healthy middle-aged men?
Heart size ≥ 500 ml.m-2 on routine chest X-ray is a strong, independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in healthy middle-aged men with below-median physical fitness.
Relative Risk: 4.6 (95% CI 2.5–8.4)
valor p: p=< 0.001
The possible association between heart size measured during a cardiovascular screening examination and cardiovascular mortality was studied in 1984 healthy men aged 40-59 years. At the 16-year follow-up 278 had died, 150 from cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular mortality was 2.2 times higher among the 122 men with heart size > or = 500 ml.m-2 than among those with heart size < 500 ml.m-2. This association was, however, exclusively confined to men with physical fitness below median in whom the corresponding mortality ratio was 4.6 (95% confidence interval 2.5-8.4; P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure and heart rate. Heart size measurements from routine chest X-rays is fast, easy, inexpensive and appears to provide valuable, independent screening information in healthy, middle-aged men.
Sandvik et al. (Sat,) conducted a cohort in Healthy middle-aged men (n=1,984). Heart size ≥ 500 ml/m² vs. Heart size < 500 ml/m² was evaluated on Cardiovascular mortality (Mortality ratio 4.6, 95% CI 2.5-8.4, p=< 0.001). Heart size ≥ 500 ml/m² was associated with a 4.6-fold higher risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to < 500 ml/m² in men with below-median physical fitness (RR 4.6; 95% CI 2.5-8.4; P<0.001).