Left ventricular functional, structural and energetic effects of normal aging: Comparison with hypertension

ObjectivesBoth aging and hypertension are significant risk factors for heart failure in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to determine how aging, with and without hypertension, affects left ventricular function.MethodsCross-sectional study of magnetic resonance imaging and 31P spectroscopy-based measurements of left ventricular structure, global function, strains, pulse wave velocity, high energy phosphate metabolism in 48 normal subjects and 40 treated hypertensive patients (though no other cardiovascular disease or diabetes) stratified into 3 age deciles from 50–79 years.ResultsNormal aging was associated with significant increases in systolic blood pressure, vascular stiffness, torsion, and impaired diastolic function (all PConclusions1) Hypertension adds to the age-related changes in systolic blood pressure and diastolic function; 2) hypertension is uniquely associated with changes in several aspects of left ventricular structure, function, systolic strains, and energetics; and 3) these uniquely hypertensive-associated parameters are related to the level of systolic blood pressure and so are potentially modifiable.