Relationship between right and left ventricle function in subjects free of cardiovascular diseases: a population-based MRI study

Right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) volumetric measurements by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are established for assessing systolic and diastolic function, but the role of MRI-derived lung volumes in LV function remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between RV and LV function, considering lung volumes. In the KORA-MRI cohort, 361 subjects underwent 3 T whole-body MRI. Cardiac functional parameters were measured from cine-steady-state free precession sequences using cvi42. Lung volumes were derived semi-automatically with an in-house algorithm. Linear regression analyses assessed RV-LV relationships, adjusted for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and lung volumes. Among 361 subjects (mean age 56.1 ± 9.1 years; 43% women), RV end-diastolic volume was positively associated with LV end-diastolic (β = 28.1, p < 0.001), end-systolic (β = 11.0, p < 0.001), and stroke volume (β = 17.0, p < 0.001), but inversely with ejection fraction (β = -1.4, p = 0.001). RV end-systole was positively associated with LV end-diastolic (β = 21.2, p < 0.001), end-systolic (β = 11.5, p < 0.001), stroke volume (β = 9.7, p < 0.001), and inversely with ejection fraction (β = -3.3, p < 0.001). Adjusting for lung volumes did not alter RV-LV associations, and no effect modification by sex was observed despite lung volume differences. In individuals without cardiovascular disease, RV and LV volumetric parameters were strongly associated, supporting the critical role of RV function in LV function, independent of lung volumes.