Effect of age on left ventricular systolic function in humans: a study of systolic isovolumic acceleration rate

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of age on left ventricular (LV) systolic function in normal healthy adults. Eighty consecutive subjects without cardiovascular disease underwent standard and tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiographic imaging. LV systolic function was assessed by load-dependent indices as ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial systolic velocities by TD as well as by the load-independent index, systolic isovolumic acceleration rate (IVA). None of the echocardiographic measurements of systolic function declined with age (mean IVA for the group, 286 +/- 123 cm s(-2); IVA vs. age, r = 0.21, P = 0.1). Likewise, LV end diastolic dimension, wall thickness, mass and left atrial maximum volume were not significantly related to age. On the other hand, as previously reported, echocardiographic indices of diastolic function showed a significant decline with age (P < 0.05). When the group was stratified by gender, isovolumic velocity and acceleration were higher in men than women, but the differences were not significant (P = 0.12 and 0.37, respectively). No significant relation was observed between age and measurements of LV systolic function by regression analysis in women (P > 0.1). However, in men, a positive correlation was noted between average IVA and age (r = 0.63, P = 0.007). In conclusion, age is not associated with a change in cardiac structure and LV systolic function, but is accompanied by a decline in echocardiographic indices of diastolic function. With respect to gender, age does not appear to influence LV systolic function in women, but is associated with an increase in IVA and septal systolic ejection in men.