[Clinical profile of aged patients with severe aortic stenosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical symptoms and echocardiographic findings in elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis and possible gender differences.


METHODS
We studied 54 patients, 24 (44.5%) males and 30 (55.5%) females aged 80.7 +/- 5.2 years with severe aortic stenosis. The following variables were analyzed: presence of clinical manifestations (dyspnea, angina, and syncope) and echocardiographic indices (left ventricular [LV] dimensions, ejection fraction [EF], and mass index).


RESULTS
Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom with overall prevalence of 44%. EF was lower than 50% in only 2 patients. There were no gender differences in the prevalence of any of the clinical manifestations. Male patients had higher LV volumes (p < 0.05) and lower EF (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The data showing dyspnea as the most common clinical manifestation; EF > 50%; lower LV volumes and greater EF in female patients suggest that the adaptive mechanisms to this condition may be different between the two sexes.
Pierri
H
H
Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas-FMUSP.
Décourt
L V
LV
Wajngarten
M
M
Gebara
O
O
Serro-Azul
J B
JB
Nusbacher
A
A
Abensur
H
H
Pivotto
L
L
Barretto
A C
AC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography
Perfíl clínico de idosos portadores de estenose aórtica severa.