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Left ventricular mass index and prevalence of heart disease in the population aged 80 years and over
B Komsuoğlu1, E Duman, S S Komsuoğlu
1Department of Cardiology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Insights
In elderly individuals, left ventricular hypertrophy is common, affecting 62% of participants. Hypertension and high LDL-cholesterol were also prevalent, highlighting cardiovascular risks in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly.
- Understanding the prevalence of specific cardiovascular risk factors in this population is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of left ventricular mass, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cigarette smoking in individuals aged 80 years and over.
- To correlate clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic findings with cardiovascular disease symptoms in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic data from 69 subjects aged 80+.
- Categorization of subjects based on cardiovascular symptoms (NYHA stage 2-4) and presence of cardiovascular disease.
- Measurement of left ventricular mass index and wall thickness via echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was prevalent in 62% of subjects.
- Hypertension was diagnosed in 81% of patients with adequate echocardiograms, with definite hypertension in 33.3% and isolated systolic hypertension in 26%.
- High LDL-cholesterol (63%) and low HDL-cholesterol (26%) were common; 47.8% were current smokers.
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy is highly prevalent in the elderly population, irrespective of cardiac symptoms.
- Hypertension and dyslipidemia are significant cardiovascular risk factors in this age group.
- Findings underscore the need for proactive cardiovascular risk management in elderly individuals.
Abstract:
Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings of 69 subjects aged 80 years or over were analyzed in order to assess the prevalence of left ventricular mass, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and cigarette smoking. Of the 69 subjects studied, 41 had no symptoms or sign of cardiovascular disease, 28 had one or more cardiac symptoms (NYHA stage 2-4). 25 had electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy and there were no differences between the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. Echocardiographically, the left ventricular mass index ranged between 103 to 247 g/m2 in men and 170 to 251 g/m2 in women. In 36 subjects with high left ventricular mass index, the ventricular septal thicknesses ranged from 12 mm to 15 mm in 19 subjects, and posterior wall thicknesses ranged from 12 mm to 16 mm in 17 subjects. Of the 58 patients with an adequate echocardiogram, 47 had clinically diagnosed hypertension (81%). In our study population, a prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (62%), isolated systolic hypertension (26%), definite hypertension (33.3%), high LDL-cholesterol (63%), low HDL-cholesterol (26%), abnormal Q wave (16%), cigarette smoking (47.8%) and diabetes mellitus (1.4%) were found.