Effect of Aging on Diastolic Left Ventricular Myocardial Velocities Measured by Pulsed Tissue Doppler Imaging in Healthy Subjects

doi:10.1016/S0894-7317(99)70005-2

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography

Volume 12, Issue 7, July 1999, Pages 574-581

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0894-7317(99)70005-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of aging on diastolic left ventricular (LV) wall motion velocity in 80 healthy persons with the use of pulsed tissue Doppler imaging. The wall motion velocity patterns were recorded at the middle regions of the LV posterior wall and ventricular septum in the parasternal (along the short axis) and apical (along the long axis) LV long-axis views. In the posterior wall, the peak early diastolic wall motion velocities (Ews) along both axes correlated inversely with age (long axis: r = –0.61, P < .0001; short axis: r = –0.55, P < .0001), and the peak atrial systolic wall motion velocities (Aws) along both axes correlated directly with age (long axis: r = 0.59, P < .0001; short axis: r = 0.65, P < .0001). In the ventricular septum, the Ew along the long axis correlated inversely with age (r = –0.51, P < .0001), and the Aws along both axes correlated directly with age (long axis: r = 0.57, P < .0001; short axis: r = 0.53, P < .0001). The Ews along both axes at the posterior wall correlated directly with the peak early diastolic transmitral flow velocity. The Aws along both axes at the ventricular septum and posterior wall correlated directly with the peak atrial systolic transmitral flow velocity. The times from the second heart sound to the peak of the early diastolic waves of the ventricular septum and posterior wall along both axes significantly increased with age. The times from the aortic component of the second heart sound to the peak of the early diastolic motion velocities along both axes were significantly longer at the ventricular septum than at the posterior wall. Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging may be useful for evaluating the effect of aging on diastolic LV function in healthy persons. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:574-81.)

Section snippets

Study Population

We enrolled 80 healthy persons who were in normal sinus rhythm (48 men and 32 women; age range: 24 to 81 years; mean age: 52 ± 18 years). The group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers and 40 patients who consulted our institute because of palpitations, dyspnea, or chest pain, and were evaluated by electrocardiography, chest radiography, phonocardiography, routine echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization. None showed evidence of clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including

RESULTS

Table 1 summarizes the mean values and ranges of clinical, M-mode, and TMF velocity variables.

. Clinical, M-mode and transmitral flow velocity variables

Empty Cell	Mean ± SD	Range
Age (y)	52 ± 18	24 - 81
HR (bpm)	64 ± 10	51 - 80
LVDd (mm)	48 ± 4	40 - 54
LVDs (mm)	29 ± 4	23 - 36
%FS (%)	40 ± 5	32 - 51
VSth (mm)	10 ± 1	7 - 11
PWth (mm)	10 ± 1	7 - 12
LAD (mm)	35 ± 3	28 - 41
E (cm/s)	64 ± 17	34 - 104
A (cm/s)	58 ± 16	25 - 88
E/A	1.2 ± 0.7	0.6 - 3.8

HR, Heart rate; LVDd, end-diastolic left ventricular dimension; LVDs, end-systolic left ventricular

DISCUSSION

It has been previously reported that LV diastolic function is impaired with aging in healthy persons despite normal LV systolic function, 26, 27, 28, 29 and that the peak early diastolic TMF velocity decreases and the peak atrial systolic TMF velocity increases with aging, resulting in an increase in their ratio.18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 In experimental studies, it has been shown that the myocardial fiber tension becomes greater with aging, and the relaxation time is prolonged because of

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In the presence of impaired relaxation and progressive development of HF, there is a delay from the time blood enters the LV inflow tract until filling of the apex. Some studies have demonstrated that mitral annular motion velocity (E’) from tissue Doppler imaging is associated with conventional transmitral flow velocity (E) [20–29] and LV recoil. [30] The study by Bukachi et al. [7] showed that both peak E and peak E’ prolonged, but EDTD did not change significantly in elderly group compared with younger patients.
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^☆: Reprint requests: Takashi Oki, MD, Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, 2-50 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.

^☆☆: 0894-7317/99 $8.00 + 0 27/1/98624

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Effect of Aging on Diastolic Left Ventricular Myocardial Velocities Measured by Pulsed Tissue Doppler Imaging in Healthy Subjects☆,☆☆

Abstract

Section snippets

Study Population

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

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