Abstract
Aging is associated with degenerative changes in cardiac and endothelial function
(EF). This study was done to assess whether age-related changes take place on EF,
carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), blood pressure (BP), and echocardiographic measurements.
All volunteers were healthy normotensive healthy subjects. They were divided into
three groups. Group 1, young adults: < 40 years old; Group 2, middle age: between
40 and 60 years old; Group 3, elderly: > 60 years old. High-frequency vascular ultrasound
was used to assess the baseline brachial artery dimension and flow velocity after
reactive hyperemia. The carotid IMT and echocardiographic measurements including Doppler
variables were recorded in all subjects. Systolic BP, left ventricular mass, and left
ventricular end-diastolic volume increased progressively with age (p < 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased progressively with age (male,
p = 0.034; female, p = 0.001); E/A ratio of the left ventricular flow spectrum declined with age (p < 0.001). The ultrasonic EF variables of flow increased during reactive hyperemia
and IMT increased with age (p < 0.001). Our study demonstrates that BP, body weight, and ultrasonic variables changed
significantly with age. The aging-associated changes provide insight into progression
to atherosclerosis.
Keywords
endothelial function - intima-media thickness - elderly population - flow-mediated
dilation - left ventricular mass - echocardiography
