All echocardiograms are over-read by a Board Certified staff cardiologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital with COCATS Level 3 advanced training in echocardiography and/or ASE Board Certification in Comprehensive Adult Echocardiography. Over-readers are presented with the following key quantitative measurements made by technicians: LV end-diastolic dimension, wall thickness, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, LVEF, LAVi, RVFAC, MR jet area-to left atrial area ratio, aortic valve peak antegrade velocity, and TR velocity. Over-readers review echocardiograms to confirm the accuracy of these measurements and to identify clinically important findings not otherwise represented by the technical measurements. Such clinically important findings include significant aortic insufficiency, mitral stenosis, pulmonary hypertension, or right ventricular enlargement. Over-readers must approve analysis for each study prior to study data being finalized for transfer to the ARIC Coordinating Center.
Following data transfer, the ARIC Coordinating Center incorporates LVEF, LV end-diastolic dimension, and LV wall thickness into a summary letter of Visit 5 test results, which is sent to participants as a courtesy. Additional clinically relevant findings identified by ERC over-readers are also reported in this letter.
Following data transfer, the ARIC Coordinating Center incorporates LVEF, LV end-diastolic dimension, and LV wall thickness into a summary letter of Visit 5 test results, which is sent to participants as a courtesy. Additional clinically relevant findings identified by ERC over-readers are also reported in this letter.
