The effect of age on central and regional hemodynamics

16 normal subjects, ranging in age from 24 to 79 years, underwent simultaneous central and regional (renal, hepatic and limb) hemodynamic measurements; the purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between these measurements and age. Cardiac index was inversely related to age, with a correlation coefficient of -0.53 (p less than 0.05). Renal blood flow correlated inversely with age at an r value of -0.52 (p less than 0.05). Although the correlation coefficients did not achieve statistical significance, several trends were noted with increasing age: systemic vascular resistance, renal, hepatic and limb vascular resistances, and mean systemic blood pressure increase and hepatic and limb flows decrease. In normal human subjects, certain central and regional hemodynamic parameters change with age; these changes may ultimately influence function and perhaps, drug disposition (liver and kidney) as well.