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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Oxygenation-sensitive Cardiac MRI with Vasoactive Breathing Maneuvers for the Non-invasive Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Published on: August 17, 2022
Age-related reduction of systemic arterial compliance induces excessive myocardial oxygen consumption during
Takeshi Otsuki1, Seiji Maeda, Yumiko Kesen
1Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Abstract:
Reduction of systemic arterial compliance (SAC) with aging increases left ventricular afterload. The present study was designed to examine whether age-related reduction of SAC is related to excessive myocardial oxygen consumption during sub-maximal aerobic exercise. We studied elderly (60-69 years; n = 25) and senior (70-82 years; n = 25) subjects. We measured SAC immediately before the start of the ramp-fashion exercise (i.e., at the end of the 20 W warm-up exercise) and the double product (DP: systolic blood pressure x heart rate) during the ramp-fashion exercise (20-50 W). SAC was significantly lower in senior subjects (0.76 +/- 0.25 ml mmHg(-1) m(-2)) compared with elderly subjects (0.95 +/- 0.22 ml mmHg(-1) m(-2)). DP was higher in senior subjects (20 W: 14.3 +/- 3.1; 30 W: 15.9 +/- 4.2; 40 W: 17.7 +/- 4.9; 50 W: 20.6 +/- 5.6 [x 10(3) mmHg bpm]) than in elderly subjects (12.8 +/- 3.0, 14.0 +/- 3.5, 15.1 +/- 4.0, 17.1 +/- 4.3 [x 10(3) mmHg bpm]). In total subjects, SAC correlated significantly with DP (r = -0.64, r = -0.64, r = -0.64, r = -0.64). In senior subjects, SAC was related significantly to DP (r = -0.83, r = -0.78, r = -0.76, r = -0.74). In elderly subjects, SAC tended to correlate with DP although its relationships were not statistically significant (r = -0.34, r = -0.36, r = -0.33, r = -0.31). Correlation coefficients at each respective exercise intensity were significantly higher in senior subjects compared with elderly subjects. These results suggest that the age-related reduction of SAC is related to excessive myocardial oxygen consumption during sub-maximal aerobic exercise in older humans, but this relation does not become significant until the SAC reduction becomes pronounced.
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