The relation between velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (VCF) and wall stress (WS) is being used to estimate contractile state in a variety of disease states and patient ages more frequently. However, its relation to age has not been established. To determine reproducibility and age and sex dependence of this relation, 204 normal children (113 boys, 91 girls) underwent echographic determination of VCF and WS. The children were enrolled in 3 groups: group 1 less than 6 months old (n = 27); group 2 greater than 6 months and less than 3 years old (n = 38); and group 3 greater than 3 and less than 20 years old (n = 139). Twenty-five children also underwent serial echocardiography (n = 44) to determine reproducibility of the relation. Only 1 of the 44 repeat data pairs of VCF and WS was outside the 95% confidence limits of that relation. In all 3 groups, VCF was significantly inversely and linearly related to WS (p less than 0.001). The regression equation in the oldest group was very similar to previous reports (VCF = -0.0031 [WS] + 1.21). The regression lines in the 2 younger groups were significantly steeper and had a significantly higher y-intercept (p less than 0.01). Group 1 had the steepest slope and highest y-intercept. There was no difference in the regression lines of different sexes in any of the patient groups. It is concluded that the relation of VCF to WS is reproducible over time. It is age-dependent but has no relation to gender. VCF in patients less than 6 months old is more highly dependent on WS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)