Clinical Scorecard: Establishing Reference Values and Z-scores for Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Healthy Children from Colombia: An Echocardiographic Analysis

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Study included 321 healthy children stratified by age (2–6, 7–12, 13–17 years)
• GLS values varied significantly with age, becoming less negative in older children
• Moderate correlation between GLS and age (r = 0.49; p < 0.001)
• Reference values for GLS established for a Colombian pediatric population
• Normal left ventricular ejection fraction maintained across age groups
• Methodology included anthropometric and echocardiographic assessments.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Echocardiographic evaluation following American Society of Echocardiography guidelines, including assessment of GLS.

Management

• Assessment of GLS as a key parameter for detecting myocardial dysfunction, alongside traditional measures.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regular echocardiographic assessments in pediatric populations, with attention to GLS trends.

Risks

• Exclusion of participants with structural or functional cardiac abnormalities.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Healthy children aged 2 to 17 years without structural heart disease

No specific treatments indicated; focus on establishing reference values and their clinical implications.

Clinical Best Practices

• Use age-appropriate blood pressure cuffs for accurate measurements
• Perform echocardiographic evaluations by certified professionals
• Ensure balanced representation across pediatric age spectrum in studies
• Consider follow-up assessments based on GLS findings.

Related Resources & Content

• American Society of Echocardiography Pediatric Council Guidelines