title: Age- and gender-dependent left ventricular remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of age and gender on left ventricular (LV) size, muscle mass, and systolic function as determined by two-dimensional echocardiography has not yet been investigated in a large population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography studies of 5307 subjects (47% males) performed between March 1990 and December 2011 were analyzed. LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), LV muscle mass index (LVMMI), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and LV fractional shortening (LVFS) were compared in different age groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LVMMI increased in females from 66.4 ± 1.3 g/m(2) (7-20 years) to 76.3 ± 0.9 g/m(2) (60-80 years; P < 0.0001) and in males from 81.9 ± 1.7 g/m(2) (7-20 years) to 94.6 ± 1.3 g/m(2) (60-80 years; P < 0.0001). LVEDVI decreased in females from 49.8 ± 0.9 mL/m(2) (7-20 years) to 42.8 ± 0.6 mL/m(2) (60-80 years; P < 0.0001) and in males from 56.6 ± 0.8 mL/m(2) (7-20 years) to 49.0 ± 0.7 mL/m(2) (60-80 years; P < 0.0001). A significant increase in LVEF was observed with age (P < 0.0001 for both genders), but it was more pronounced in females (62 ± 0.5% [age 7-20 years] vs. 65 ± 0.3% [age 60-80 years]) than in males (62 ± 0.5% [age 7-20 years] vs. 64 ± 0.3% [age 60-80 years]). Similarly, LVFS increased in females from 37.7 ± 0.5% (7-20 years) to 42.4 ± 0.4% (60-80 years; P < 0.001) and in males from 37.3 ± 0.5% (7-20 years) to 39.4 ± 0.5% (60-80 years; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LVEF, LVFS, and LVMMI increase with advancing age, in particular in females. In contrast, LVEDVI decreases with age. These findings indicate that the LV undergoes a lifelong remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebhard
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Stähli
authors.forename: Caroline E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gebhard
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tasnady
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zihler
authors.forename: Manfred B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wischnewsky
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Felix C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: echocardiography; elderly; left ventricular ejection fraction; left ventricular function; left ventricular remodeling; left ventricular volume