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Age-related valvular regurgitation: a study by pulsed Doppler echocardiography
Insights
Valvular regurgitation is common in older adults, appearing in the fifties and affecting everyone over 80. This age-related change, detected by Doppler echocardiography, may be a normal finding in healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Valvular regurgitation prevalence in healthy aging populations is not well-defined.
- Understanding age-related cardiac changes is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of valvular regurgitation in healthy elderly volunteers.
- To investigate the relationship between age and the incidence of valvular regurgitation.
Main Methods:
- Pulsed Doppler echocardiography combined with 2D echocardiography.
- Study included 176 healthy volunteers aged 40-90 years.
- Analysis of regurgitation prevalence across different age groups.
Main Results:
- Regurgitation prevalence increased with age (r = .81, p < .001), starting in the fifties and present in all over 80.
- Multivalvular regurgitation was common in those aged 60+.
- Aortic regurgitation showed the most prominent increase with aging.
Conclusions:
- Valvular regurgitation, single or multiple, is a common finding in the aged.
- It may be considered a normal finding in healthy individuals without cardiac disease.
- High prevalence necessitates consideration during Doppler examinations in the elderly.
Abstract:
To assess the prevalence of valvular regurgitation in the aged, we studied 176 apparently healthy volunteers with no history or physical evidence of cardiac abnormality. Their ages ranged from 40 to 90 (66 +/- 14, mean +/- SD) years. We examined these subjects by pulsed Doppler echocardiography combined with two-dimensional echocardiography to determine the prevalence of valvular regurgitation. Regurgitation began to appear in subjects in their fifties, increasing in prevalence with advancing age (r = .81, p less than .001), and was documented in all over age 80. Similarly, regurgitation involving more than one valve appeared in those 60 years and older, and was very common (89%) in subjects in their eighties. With each type of valvular regurgitation, the prevalence of each type of regurgitation increased with aging, but this tendency was most prominent for aortic regurgitation. We conclude that (1) single or multivalvular regurgitation as detected by pulsed Doppler echocardiography is very common in the aged and may be considered a normal finding in the absence of other evidence of heart disease, and (2) the high prevalence of regurgitation in the aged must be taken into account when Doppler examinations are being performed.