Echocardiography in elderly patients with systolic murmurs
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Elderly patients with systolic murmurs were evaluated. Mitral murmurs were linked to enlarged heart chambers and a higher incidence of heart failure, often showing abnormal mitral valve function on echocardiograms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Systolic murmurs are common in the elderly.
- Distinguishing the etiology of murmurs is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the echocardiographic findings and clinical characteristics of elderly patients presenting with systolic murmurs.
- To identify differences between patients with mitral murmurs and other systolic murmurs.
Main Methods:
- Clinical examination, phonocardiography, and echocardiography were performed.
- 49 elderly patients with systolic murmurs were included in the study.
- Echocardiographic parameters and clinical history were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Patients with mitral murmurs showed increased left atrial and left ventricular diameters.
- Mitral valve closure rate, excursion, and history of congestive cardiac failure were higher in the mitral murmur group.
- No significant differences in aortic root or aortic valve excursion were observed between groups.
- Mitral murmurs were more frequently associated with abnormal echocardiograms, particularly mitral valve leaflet dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Systolic murmurs in the elderly, especially mitral murmurs, are often associated with structural heart changes and impaired valve function.
- Echocardiography is essential for characterizing systolic murmurs and identifying underlying cardiac abnormalities in older adults.
- Mitral valve abnormalities are a common finding in elderly patients with mitral murmurs.
Abstract:
Clinical examination, phonocardiography and echocardiography were performed on 49 elderly patients with systolic murmurs. Patients with mitral murmurs had increased left atrial and left ventricular diameters, increased mitral valve closure rate and excursion with a higher frequency of previous congestive cardiac failure. There was no difference in aortic root diameter or aortic valve excursion between the two groups. Patients with mitral murmurs were more likely to have an abnormal echocardiogram and abnormalities of mitral valve leaflet function were most commonly observed.