Left ventricular diastolic function in a population of healthy elderly subjects. An echocardiographic study

Diastolic left ventricular function was comparatively assessed in 19 healthy elderly individuals (mean age 71 years) and in 20 young normal subjects (mean age 26 years), using digitized echocardiograms. Peak and average filling rates were slower in the group of elderly subjects than in the younger population (128 +/- 26 and 75 +/- 11 v 182 +/- 37 and 92 +/- 17 mm per second, respectively, P less than .001). The duration of the rapid filling phase and the time to peak filling rate were significantly longer in the older than in the younger population (207 +/- 39 and 125 +/- 21 v 174 +/- 38 and 90 +/- 26 ms, respectively, P less than .01). The atrial contribution to total ventricular filling was 18 +/- 6% in the elderly and 10 +/- 3% in the young (P less than .001). The group differences of most of these measurements of diastolic function retained statistical significance after correction for heart rate. Measurements of left ventricular systolic function were similar in both age groups. The authors conclude that aging is associated with a decline of left ventricular compliance, unrelated to heart rate or systolic performance. The contribution of atrial contraction to ventricular filling is quantitatively larger in elderly individuals.