Ageing induces left ventricular concentric remodelling in normotensive subjects.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
What was done
Cross-sectional echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluation of 430 consecutive normotensive, clinically healthy subjects aged 16–85 years. Participants were stratified into three age groups: <= 40 years (n = 137), 41–64 years (n = 261), and >= 65 years (n = 32). Investigators measured left ventricular (LV) posterior wall thickness, LV internal diameter, relative wall thickness, Penn mass index, and systemic arterial stiffness estimated by the pulse pressure to stroke volume ratio.
What was found
Across advancing age groups, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure to stroke volume ratio, and posterior wall thickness increased, while LV internal diameter decreased (smaller in group 3 than groups 1 and 2). Relative wall thickness increased from group 1 to groups 2 and 3. LV mass index did not differ significantly across age groups. Age was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure to stroke volume ratio, posterior wall thickness index, and relative wall thickness, negatively correlated with LV internal diameter, and uncorrelated with LV mass index. Specific numerical values (means, standard deviations, correlation coefficients, or p-values) were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study indicates that age-associated concentric LV remodeling occurs independently of clinical hypertension, accompanied by arterial stiffening and chamber narrowing rather than myocardial hypertrophy. Consequently, standard diagnostic reference cutoffs for relative wall thickness may require adjustment for age.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot confirm within-individual structural trajectories over time. The oldest subgroup (>= 65 years) was relatively small (n = 32) compared to younger cohorts, and the abstract omits exact point estimates, variance, and p-values.
Cited by
- context As humans age, the heart shrinks and myocardial tissue becomes stiffer.