What does an echocardiogram primarily measure?

An echocardiogram primarily measures the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is a key indicator of the heart's overall pumping efficiency. The LVEF quantifies the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat, providing critical insight into cardiac function and helping to assess conditions such as heart failure or cardiomyopathy. By evaluating how well the heart can pump blood, healthcare providers can determine the heart's performance and devise appropriate treatment plans.

While other options, such as heart rate variability, blood pressure response, and stroke volume, are important measures of cardiovascular health, they are not the primary focus of an echocardiogram. Heart rate variability pertains to the fluctuation in time intervals between heartbeats, which is assessed through different monitoring techniques. Blood pressure response reflects how the blood pressure changes during various physical activities or stressors and is typically measured using sphygmomanometers or digital monitors. Stroke volume, which indicates the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle during each contraction, can be estimated using echocardiography but is considered a secondary metric compared to LVEF in terms of understanding heart functionality.