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Impact of age, sex, and global function on normal aortic hemodynamics
Michael B Scott1,2, Hyungkyu Huh1, Pim van Ooij3
1Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Insights
Aortic hemodynamics in healthy individuals change with age, showing decreased velocity and wall shear stress in older adults. These changes correlate with vessel diameter and cardiac function, highlighting age-related hemodynamic shifts.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging and Hemodynamics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Radiology
Background:
- Aortic hemodynamics are crucial for cardiovascular health.
- Understanding age- and sex-related changes in aortic hemodynamics is essential for identifying early signs of cardiovascular disease.
- Left ventricular function significantly influences aortic flow patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of age and sex on aortic velocity, helicity, and three-dimensional wall shear stress (3D-WSS) in healthy individuals.
- To correlate these hemodynamic parameters with left ventricular function and aortic dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-flow MRI) was performed on 100 healthy volunteers across various age groups.
- Quantification of systolic aortic peak velocity, helicity, and 3D-WSS distribution was conducted.
- Age- and sex-specific hemodynamic atlases were created and correlated with cardiac function metrics.
Main Results:
- Systolic velocity and 3D-WSS generally decreased with increasing age.
- No significant sex-based differences were observed except in younger adults (18-30 years).
- Hemodynamic parameters correlated positively with cardiac output and left ventricular volumes, and negatively with aortic diameter.
Conclusions:
- Healthy aortic hemodynamics are significantly influenced by subject age.
- Aortic velocity, helicity, and 3D-WSS are closely related to aortic diameter and cardiac function.
- These findings provide insights into age-dependent hemodynamic alterations in the aorta.
Purpose:
To examine the effects of age, sex, and left ventricular global function on velocity, helicity, and 3D wall shear stress (3D-WSS) in the aorta of N = 100 healthy controls.
Methods:
Fifty female and 50 male volunteers with no history of cardiovascular disease, with 10 volunteers per age group (18-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 61-80 years) underwent aortic 4D-flow MRI. Quantification of systolic aortic peak velocity, helicity, and 3D-WSS distribution and the calculation of age group-averaged peak systolic velocity and 3D-WSS maps ("atlases") were computed. Age-related and sex-related changes in peak velocity, helicity, and 3D-WSS were computed and correlated with standard metrics of left ventricular function derived from short-axis cine MRI.
Results:
No significant differences were found in peak systolic velocity or 3D-WSS based on sex except for the 18- to 30-year-old group (males 8% higher velocity volume and 3D-WSS surface area). Between successively older groups, systolic velocity decreased (13%, <1%, 7%, and 55% of the aorta volume) and 3D-WSS decreased (21%, 2%, 30%, and 62% of the aorta surface area). Mean velocity, mean 3D-3D-WSS, and median helicity increased with cardiac output (r = 0.27-0.43, all P < .01), and mean velocity and 3D-WSS decreased with increasing diameter (r > 0.35, P < .001). Arch and descending aorta systolic mean velocity, mean 3D-WSS, and median helicity increased with normalized left ventricular volumes: end diastolic volume (r = 0.31-0.37, P < .01), end systolic volume (r = 0.27-0.35, P < .01), and stroke volume (r = 0.28-0.35, P < .01).
Conclusion:
Healthy aortic hemodynamics are dependent on subject age, and correlate with vessel diameter and cardiac function.
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