Standard two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were performed at rest using standard methods[9,29] to exclude the presence of LV systolic dysfunction, regional wall motion abnormalities (suggestive of CAD), pericardial
disease, or significant valvular pathology. Chamber sizes, LV end-systolic and -diastolic chamber dimensions, and wall thickness, fractional shortening, and the area–length method for measurement of cardiac volume to measure ejection fraction were quantitated by
standard techniques for all individuals.