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Ageing and its effects on the cardiovascular system.

M Safar1

  • 1Centre de Diagnostic, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.

Drugs
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Aging causes adaptive changes in cardiovascular structure and function, including left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffening. These age-related cardiovascular changes affect cardiac performance and response to stress.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Gerontology
  • Internal medicine

Background:

  • Ageing is associated with cardiovascular changes, often confounded by disease and lifestyle factors.
  • Understanding age-related cardiovascular alterations is crucial for differentiating normal aging from pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the intrinsic effects of aging on cardiovascular structure and function.
  • To differentiate age-related changes from disease-induced alterations in the cardiovascular system.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of autopsy data.
  • Non-invasive techniques, including echocardiography.
  • Assessment of cardiovascular response to stress, such as maximal oxygen consumption during exercise.

Main Results:

  • Progressive left ventricular wall thickening occurs with age, an adaptive response to increased afterload.
  • Age-related arterial stiffening and intimal thickening increase systolic pressure and pulse pressure.
  • Reduced ventricular compliance and prolonged relaxation impair diastolic filling, offset by increased atrial contribution.
  • Resting cardiac output declines, and alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction predominates.
  • Cardiovascular performance under stress decreases, evidenced by reduced maximal oxygen consumption.

Conclusions:

  • Aging induces adaptive cardiovascular changes, including left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffening.
  • These changes contribute to altered cardiac mechanics and reduced functional capacity with age.
  • Distinguishing normal aging from pathological conditions is essential for effective cardiovascular care in older adults.

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