Intraventricular filling flows in assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in the elderly

AIM: To assess effect of old age on Doppler parameters of intraventricular filling flows. MATERIAL: Echocardiography with determination of velocity and time of early diastolic flow propagation, degree of its deceleration, maximal regional intraventricular flow velocity, and late diastolic interval A-Ar was carried out in healthy elderly (age 68.0+/-7.5 years, n=20) and middle aged (mean age 45.9+/-5.9 years, n=20) persons. RESULTS: Elderly compared with middle aged persons had decreased velocity (42.1+/-1.6 and 57.6+/-0.9 cm/sec, respectively, p=0.0001) and prolonged time (29.3+/-4.3 and 18.4+/-2.2 ms, respectively, p=0.02) of intraventricular early diastolic flow propagation, lower Eiv (0.64+/-0.04 and 0.92+/-0.04 ms, respectively, p=0.0001) and E(iv)/E (0.85+/-0.04 and 1.14+/-0.07, respectively, p=0.006), similar A-Ar (55.2+/-3.5 and 0.54+/-0.04 ms, respectively, p=0.78). CONCLUSION: Advanced age is associated with worsened active relaxation of the myocardium which is not accompanied by substantial changes of late diastolic left ventricular stiffness.