Effect of age and pathology on left ventricular diastolic function: the diagnostic yield of Doppler echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Doppler echocardiography has been proposed to detect left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in the elderly. However, the validity of this technique in differentiating the effects of pathology from those of normal aging has not been defined.


METHODS
Doppler indices of LV diastolic function were obtained in 85 patients (34 hypertensive, 29 with coronary artery disease, 22 with both conditions) and in 56 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
A linear correlation with age was found for all parameters in controls, and for many parameters in patients. Also, in the presence of heart diseases, age exerted a powerful, independent effect on Doppler parameters. None of these differed between patients and controls in advanced age.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the prevailing age-related variations in Doppler indices of diastolic performance occurring beyond the age of 65, Doppler echocardiography cannot be employed to diagnose LV diastolic dysfunction in the elderly.
Zuccalà
G
G
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Sgadari
A
A
Cocchi
A
A
Bernabei
R
R
Carbonin
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*