Age and sex related changes in left and right ventricular function

Introduction: There are limited data regarding performance of RV and LV with age and sex. Our purpose was to establish age related changes in LV and RV function, and also relationship between ventricles. Methods: We assessed these changes in 131 normal subjects (19 – 78 years, 89 women) by conventional, tissue Doppler, and speckle tracking echocardiography. They were divided in 4 groups: < 40 years (n = 37), 41 – 50 years (n = 33), 51 – 60 years (n = 37), and > 61 years (n = 24). LV systolic function was assessed from ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain and strain rate (LVSRs), radial and circumferential strain, torsion, and basal rotation; LV diastolic function from E/E\’, and early and late global longitudinal strain rate (LVSRe, LVSRl). RV systolic function was assessed from TAPSE, FAC, tricuspid systolic annular velocity (S’), global systolic strain and strain rate; diastolic function from early and late global strain rate (RVSRe and RVSRl). Results: LV global systolic function, radial, circumferential, and torsion were not affected by age, whereas SRs decreased (-1.2 ± 0.2 vs -1 ± 0.2 vs -1 ± 0.2 vs -1 ± 0.1), and basal rotation increased compensatory. E/E\’ increased (6.5 ± 2 vs 7 ± 1.8 vs 8.2 ± 2.6 vs 9 ± 2), SRe was impaired (r = -0.52, p < 0.001) (1.6 ± 0.4 vs 1.44 ± 0.3 vs 1.27 ± 0.3 vs 1.1 ± 0.2), whereas SRl increased compensatory (0.94 ± 0.2 vs 1 ± 0.2 vs 1 ± 0.3 vs 1.1 ± 0.2) (all p < 0.001). RV systolic function was not affected by age, whereas RVSRe (1.47 ± 0.38 vs 1.35 ± 0.4 vs 1.36 ± 0.4 vs 1.1 ± 0.4), and RVSRl (1 ± 0.2 vs 1 ± 0.3 vs 1.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.3 ± 0.3) had similar changes as in LV (p < 0.001). RV-LV diastolic changes were correlated (r = 0.48, P < 0.001). All changes in diastolic function became significant > 50 years. Changes of LV/RV functions with age where similar for men and women. Conclusions: LV global, radial and circumferential systolic function and RV systolic function are not affected by age, whereas both LV longitudinal and RV diastolic functions are impaired by age. Changes are significant after 50 years, and similar between men and women.

ISSN
ISSN – online: 2734 – 6382
ISSN-L 1220-658X
ISSN – print: 1220-658X
INDEXING
The Romanian Journal of Cardiology is indexed by:
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CNCSIS B+
CODE: 379
CME Credits: 10 (Romanian College of Physicians)
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.