Choice of Variables for Predicting the Heart Volume

Abstract

Roentgenological heart volume determinations in the supine posture with calculation according to the formulae of both Jonsell & Kjellberg et al., and measurements of the height, weight, total haemoglobin, blood volume and physical work capacity, were made on 45 men of ages 64–86 years, previously prostatectomized and with no subjective symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease, and on 22 healthy men and 17 healthy women of ages 58–71 years from a health survey. Statistical analysis of these data comprised simple correlation calculations and stepwise regression. The body weight showed, as a rule, a stronger correlation than the body surface area with the heart volume. On testing a combination of variables, measures of body size in combination with blood volume appeared to have a stronger explanatory capacity than other combinations. Measures of physical work capacity seemed to have a weaker predictive capacity in the age groups concerned. All correlations between heart volume and the other variables were weaker in a group with ECG anomalies possibly expressing heart disease than in the groups with a normal ECG.