title: Modifications in cardiovascular functional parameters with aging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The constant rise in the number of old people involves a great interest towards the aging of the cardiovascular system. Many authors have studied age-adjusted limits to echocardiographic and functional parameters. The aim of this study is to evaluate some functional parameters so as to define the cardiovascular modifications of the aging heart.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have studied 66 patients, 32 of mean age 71+/-4 years (Group 1) and 34 with mean age 33+/-6 years (Group 2), without cardiovascular diseases, through basal echocardiography and exercise test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison to group 2, in group 1 we have observed at rest normal ventricular dimensions with increase of the thickness (SIV 11.2+/-0.4 vs 9+0.6, p=0.01; PP 10.6+/-0.6 vs 9.2+0.4, p=0.01), of the left atrium (41.2+/-1.08 vs 36.2+1.3, p=0.05), and of the aortic root (33.2+/-1.3 vs, 30.8+0.9, p=0.05), altered diastolic function (E/A 0.7+/-0.14 vs 1.9+/-0.7, p=0.01), with normal systolic indexes. At 100 Watts workload there was an age-related increase in end-diastolic volume (142+/-10.6 vs 127+/-4.3, p=0.01) and an age related decrease in heart rate (HR 100 W 148+/-10.7 vs 169+/-10.9, p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the heart of an elderly subject therefore there are morphological modifications that in the absence of organic pathologies can support the metabolic demands of the organism and adapt to the physiological modifications of the elderly subject.
authors.affiliation: Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Tiberina Island, Rome, Italy. fioramas@tin.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fioranelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mileto
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Risa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sgreccia
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Azzolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puglisi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005080:Exercise Test; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans