To determine the effect of aging on left ventricular filling, mitral valve flow was evaluated with conventional pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 100 normal subjects, aged 20 to 76 years, who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease. the
subjects
wee
classified into the 5 groups, according to the age, with 20 subjects in each groups: 20-29 years(group I), 30-39 years(group II), 40-49 years(group III), 50-59 years(group IV) and 60-76 years(group V).
@EN The results were as follows:
@EN 1) The LVEDD (Left Ventricular End Diastolic Diameter) and left ventricular mass index were significantly increased with aging(r=0.50, r=0.60) and the ejection fraction showed no significant differences among these groups.
2) With aging, the peak early velocity(Peak E) was decreased (r=-0.36) and the peak atrial velocity(Peak A) was increased (r=0.43). The E/A ratio and atrial diastolic velocity were decreased significantly with aging and showed a negative
correlation
with aging(r=-0.70).
3) The deceleration time of early diastolic flow was increased with aging (r=0.29) but without significance.
4) The isovolumetric relaxation time was significantly increased with aging(r=0.75).
In conclusion, as myocardial stiffness increases with aging, nonuniformity of myocardial relaxation is frequently associated in older age group. Thus, a certain echocardiographic parameter shows abnormal value with normla aging process: the IVRT
and DT
are prolonged, Peak E is decreased and E/A ratio increased. For correct evaluation of the left ventricular diastolic function, age should be considere, along with the other factors such as loading conditions of the heart, heart rate and the
contractile
status of the heart.
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