The CMR images were analysed independently by two observers blinded to clinical data, using commercially available software (CAAS MRV 3.0, Pie Medical Imaging, Maastricht, The Netherlands). The interobserver agreement was excellent (κ value 0.9). Discrepancies were resolved in consensus. Endocardial and epicardial borders were manually traced, excluding the papillary muscles, in the end-diastolic and end-systolic short-axis phases to determine left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), end-systolic volume (LVESV), stroke volume (LVSV), ejection fraction (LVEF) and end-diastolic mass (LV mass). These parameters were indexed for body surface area.