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Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular end‐systolic elastance in the elderly
Author(s) -
Santis Domenico,
Abete Pasquale,
Testa Gianluca,
Cacciatore Francesco,
Galizia Gianluigi,
Leosco Dario,
Viati Luisa,
Villano Vincenzo Del,
Morte David Della,
Mazzella Francesca,
Ferrara Nicola,
Rengo Franco
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2004.09.008
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , diastole , decompensation , dilated cardiomyopathy , heart failure , cardiomyopathy , doppler echocardiography , hypertensive heart disease , systole , heart disease , blood pressure
Background The aging heart is characterized by structural changes, which are implicated in the development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. However, important changes in systolic function may also occur. Left ventricular end‐systolic elastance ( E es ) is a major determinant of cardiac systolic function and ventricular—arterial interaction. Aim To evaluate left‐ventricular E es in elderly subjects compared with adult control subjects. Methods We studied dilated (DA, n =14) and hypertensive (HA, n =21) cardiomyopathy patients, and both adult control (A, n =25; age 55.6±6.6 years) and elderly (E, n =25; age 76.3±7.1 years) subjects without clinical–instrumental evidence of cardiovascular disease. M‐mode, two‐dimensional, and pulsed Doppler echocardiogram were performed. Doppler‐derived indices of diastolic function were assessed and E es was calculated by a modified single‐beat method. Results E es was reduced in dilated cardiomyopathy (1.32±0.10 mm Hg/ml) and increased in hypertensive cardiomyopathy (3.12±0.33 mm Hg/ml) patients compared to age‐matched control subjects (1.96±0.26 mm Hg/ml; p <0.01 and p <0.05, respectively). More importantly, E es was higher in the elderly (2.52±0.70 mm Hg/ml) than in the adult control group ( p <0.05) and was linearly correlated with age ( r 2 =0.639; p <0.0001). Conclusion Age‐related increase in E es , together with diastolic dysfunction, may lead to aging heart decompensation.