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Age-related changes in human left and right atrial conduction
Pipin Kojodjojo1, Prapa Kanagaratnam, Vias Markides
1St. Mary's Hospital, National Heart and Lung Institute of Imperial College of Medicine, London, UK.
Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
|March 15, 2006
Summary
Advancing age leads to slower electrical signal propagation and increased refractoriness in the atria, contributing to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). These age-related electrophysiological changes in the atria are key factors in AF prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Advancing age is a significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF).
- The mechanisms underlying age-related AF susceptibility, particularly changes in atrial substrate, remain unclear.
- This study investigated age-associated electrophysiological alterations in the atria, even in individuals without a history of arrhythmias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if advancing age is associated with changes in biatrial electrophysiology.
- To investigate the relationship between age and atrial electrophysiological properties in individuals without a history of atrial arrhythmias.
Main Methods:
- Electroanatomic mapping was conducted in 23 patients (aged 17-75) with structurally normal hearts and no AF history.
- Wavefront propagation velocities (WPV) were precisely quantified using a trigonometric method.
- Atrial refractoriness was measured at two cycle lengths across three atrial sites.
Main Results:
- Both right and left atrial WPV showed a strong inverse correlation with age.
- Left and right atrial WPVs were highly correlated, with faster conduction in the right atrium.
- Refractoriness increased with age, particularly at the septum, and left atrial wavelength decreased with age.
Conclusions:
- Aging human atria exhibit a progressive decline in WPV and increased septal refractoriness.
- These age-related electrophysiological changes in the atria are likely significant contributors to the increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation in older adults.