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Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
Published on: February 20, 2017
Heart disease and aging
1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, New York Medical College, Macy Pavilion, Room 138, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. wsaronow@aol.com
Insights
Coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) are prevalent in older adults, increasing with age. Atrial fibrillation also rises with age and predicts cardiac events and stroke in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality in older individuals.
- Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and valvular heart disease, are common in the elderly population.
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a primary reason for hospitalization among those aged 65 and older.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and age-related trends of various cardiovascular conditions in an elderly cohort.
- To examine the incidence of CHF and its association with left ventricular ejection fraction in older men and women.
- To assess the prevalence of chronic atrial fibrillation and its predictive value for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of cardiovascular disease prevalence in a large cohort of older men and women (mean age 81 years).
- Evaluation of age-related changes in valvular heart disease, CHF, and atrial fibrillation.
- Assessment of atrial fibrillation as a predictor of coronary events and stroke.
Main Results:
- CAD was present in 43% of men and 41% of women. Hypertension affected 57% of men and 60% of women.
- Prevalence of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, and mitral annular calcification (MAC) increased with age in both sexes.
- CHF prevalence and incidence increased with age. Normal LV ejection fraction with CHF was more common in older women.
- Chronic atrial fibrillation prevalence increased with age (16% in men, 13% in women) and predicted new coronary events and thromboembolic stroke.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular diseases, including CAD, hypertension, valvular heart disease, CHF, and atrial fibrillation, are highly prevalent and increase with age in older persons.
- Atrial fibrillation is a significant independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the elderly.
- Unexplained syncope in older adults warrants investigation for significant bradycardia, potentially requiring pacemaker implantation.
Abstract:
CAD is the most common cause of death in older persons and was present in 43% of 1,160 men and in 41% of 2,464 women, mean age 81 years. Hypertension was present in 60% of these older women and in 57% of these older men. The prevalence of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, and MAC increases with age in older men and in older women. The prevalence and incidence of CHF increase with age. CHF is the most common cause of hospitalization in persons aged 65 years and older. The prevalence of normal LV ejection fraction associated with CHF increases with age and is higher in older women than in older men. The prevalence of chronic atrial fibrillation increases with age and was present in 16% of 1,160 older men and in 13% of 2,464 older women. Atrial fibrillation is an independent predictor of new coronary events and thromboembolic stroke in older persons. Older persons who have unexplained syncope should have 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms to determine whether pauses of longer than 3 seconds are present that require permanent pacemaker implantation.
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