[Intraventricular filling flows in assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in the elderly]

To assess effect of old age on Doppler parameters of intraventricular filling flows.

Echocardiography with determination of velocity and time of early diastolic flow propagation, degree of its deceleration, maximal regional intraventricular flow velocity, and late diastolic interval A-Ar was carried out in healthy elderly (age 68.0+/-7.5 years, n=20) and middle aged (mean age 45.9+/-5.9 years, n=20) persons.

Elderly compared with middle aged persons had decreased velocity (42.1+/-1.6 and 57.6+/-0.9 cm/sec, respectively, p=0.0001) and prolonged time (29.3+/-4.3 and 18.4+/-2.2 ms, respectively, p=0.02) of intraventricular early diastolic flow propagation, lower Eiv (0.64+/-0.04 and 0.92+/-0.04 ms, respectively, p=0.0001) and E(iv)/E (0.85+/-0.04 and 1.14+/-0.07, respectively, p=0.006), similar A-Ar (55.2+/-3.5 and 0.54+/-0.04 ms, respectively, p=0.78).

Advanced age is associated with worsened active relaxation of the myocardium which is not accompanied by substantial changes of late diastolic left ventricular stiffness.