title: Impact of Age on the Functional Significance of Intermediate Epicardial Artery Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The functional significance of an intermediate coronary lesion is crucial for determining the treatment strategy, but age-related changes in cardiovascular function could affect the functional significance of an epicardial stenosis. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the impact of age on fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements in patients with intermediate coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intracoronary pressure measurements and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed in 178 left anterior descending coronary arteries with intermediate stenosis. The morphological characteristics and FFR of 91 lesions in patients <65 years old were compared with those of 87 patients ≥65 years old. There was no difference in lesion location, diameter stenosis, minimum lumen area, plaque burden, or lesion length between the 2 age groups. Elderly patients had higher FFR (0.81±0.06 vs. 0.79±0.06, P=0.004) and lower ∆FFR, defined as the difference between resting Pd/Pa and FFR (0.13±0.05 vs. 0.15±0.05, P=0.014). Age, along with the location and degree of stenosis, was independently associated with FFR and ∆FFR (β=0.162, P=0.008; β=-0.131, P=0.043, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients with intermediate CAD are more likely to have higher FFR and lower ∆FFR, despite a similar degree of epicardial stenosis, compared with younger patients. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1583-1589).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ajou University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Xiongjie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Hong-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Seung-Jea
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tahk
authors.forename: Hyoung-Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Myeong-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byoung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Andy S C
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fearon
authors.forename: Seung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Kyoung-Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Joon-Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium