In order to establish the normal values of the various hemodynamic parameters obtainable from the digital plethysmograms for each- wave type and each sex, 200 plethysmograms were analyzed, for100 each, healthy males and females. The mean ages of the subjects studied were approximately 30 years of age for both sexes. The hemodynamic parameters derived from this analysis of these digital plethysmograms were: left ventricular ejection
time, upstroke time, reduced ejection time, ascending index, incisura index, P/F ratio, elasticity index and dicrotic index. In addition, the incidences of the various wave types, namely the catacrotic, dilated, anacrotic and plateau wave, in the various age groups for both sexes were also studied. It was found that the hemodynamic parameters except left ventricular ejection time may vary considerably with the wave types, and the relative incidences of various wave types also varied with age and sex. These facts suggest that the clinical significance of these parameters are somewhat limited unless they are supplemented by some other clinical and/or laboratory information and are interpreted in conjunction with wave types.
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