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Modifications in cardiovascular functional parameters with aging
M Fioranelli1, M Piccoli, G M Mileto
1Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Tiberina Island, Rome, Italy. fioramas@tin.it
Insights
Aging hearts show increased wall thickness and altered diastolic function, but maintain normal systolic function and adapt to exercise demands. These changes support metabolic needs in older adults without heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
- Physiology
Background:
- The aging population necessitates understanding cardiovascular system changes.
- Previous studies focused on age-adjusted echocardiographic and functional parameters.
- Investigating age-related cardiovascular modifications is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate functional parameters in the aging heart.
- To define cardiovascular modifications associated with aging.
- To compare cardiovascular function in younger and older adults.
Main Methods:
- Studied 66 patients: 32 older (71+/-4 years) and 34 younger (33+/-6 years).
- All participants were free of cardiovascular diseases.
- Utilized basal echocardiography and exercise testing.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibited increased ventricular wall thickness, left atrium, and aortic root dimensions at rest.
- Diastolic function was altered (E/A ratio decreased) in older adults, while systolic function remained normal.
- During a 100-watt workload, older adults showed increased end-diastolic volume and decreased heart rate.
Conclusions:
- The aging heart undergoes morphological changes, including increased thickness and altered diastolic function.
- These modifications, in the absence of pathology, can support metabolic demands.
- The aging heart adapts to physiological changes in elderly individuals.
Background:
The constant rise in the number of old people involves a great interest towards the aging of the cardiovascular system. Many authors have studied age-adjusted limits to echocardiographic and functional parameters. The aim of this study is to evaluate some functional parameters so as to define the cardiovascular modifications of the aging heart.
Methods:
We have studied 66 patients, 32 of mean age 71+/-4 years (Group 1) and 34 with mean age 33+/-6 years (Group 2), without cardiovascular diseases, through basal echocardiography and exercise test.
Results:
In comparison to group 2, in group 1 we have observed at rest normal ventricular dimensions with increase of the thickness (SIV 11.2+/-0.4 vs 9+0.6, p=0.01; PP 10.6+/-0.6 vs 9.2+0.4, p=0.01), of the left atrium (41.2+/-1.08 vs 36.2+1.3, p=0.05), and of the aortic root (33.2+/-1.3 vs, 30.8+0.9, p=0.05), altered diastolic function (E/A 0.7+/-0.14 vs 1.9+/-0.7, p=0.01), with normal systolic indexes. At 100 Watts workload there was an age-related increase in end-diastolic volume (142+/-10.6 vs 127+/-4.3, p=0.01) and an age related decrease in heart rate (HR 100 W 148+/-10.7 vs 169+/-10.9, p=0.05).
Conclusions:
In the heart of an elderly subject therefore there are morphological modifications that in the absence of organic pathologies can support the metabolic demands of the organism and adapt to the physiological modifications of the elderly subject.