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Effects of coronary artery disease on the aging heart: observations from cardiac catheterization
Insights
Aging affects cardiovascular performance, but coronary disease significantly impacts resting left ventricular function across all ages. Age-related circulatory changes are largely independent of coronary disease presence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Gerontology
- Clinical Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular performance changes with age.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major health concern.
- Understanding the interplay between aging and CAD is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in cardiovascular function.
- To compare cardiovascular performance in normal individuals versus coronary patients.
- To determine how coronary disease affects age-related circulatory adaptations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of catheterization laboratory data from 691 individuals (normals and coronary patients).
- Data categorized into 10-year age increments.
- Evaluation of multiple cardiovascular performance measures.
Main Results:
- Arterial pressure increased with age in both groups.
- Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume were higher in coronary patients.
- Ejection fraction was lower in coronary patients, while left ventricular mass increased with age in both groups.
- Cardiac index declined with age; arteriovenous oxygen difference and oxygen consumption remained unchanged.
- Resting left ventricular function was not altered by age but was reduced by coronary disease.
Conclusions:
- Age-related circulatory changes are generally not significantly altered by the presence of coronary disease.
- Coronary artery disease, however, demonstrably impairs resting left ventricular function irrespective of age.
- These findings highlight the distinct and combined impact of aging and coronary disease on cardiac health.
Abstract:
We evaluated catheterization laboratory data from 691 individuals (219 normals and 472 coronary patients) using a computerized data file that provided several measures of cardiovascular performance in 10-year age increments. The expected increase in arterial pressure with age was noted in normals and coronary patients. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure, end diastolic volume, and end systolic volume remained constant with age but were higher in all age groups in the coronary patients. Ejection fraction showed no change with age but was lower in all age groups in patients with coronary disease. Left ventricular mass increased with age in normals and coronary patients. Cardiac index declined with age, whereas arteriovenous oxygen difference and oxygen consumption were unchanged. Age-related changes in the circulation were for the most part unaffected by the presence of coronary disease. Resting left ventricular function was not altered by age but coronary disease produced a decline in left ventricular function in all ages.