Increasing age in healthy subjects was independently associated with progressive reductions in TAPSE, Sa, Ea, and Ea/Aa ratio, and increases in Aa and E/Ea ratio (all P<0.0001).
Cross-Sectional (n=298)
Does ageing impact pulsed Tissue Doppler-derived indexes of right ventricular myocardial function in healthy subjects?
Ageing independently impacts pulsed Tissue Doppler-derived indexes of right ventricular myocardial function, providing age-specific reference values for healthy subjects.
p-value: p=<0.0001
AIMS: To evaluate the influence of age on pulsed Tissue Doppler-derived measurements of right ventricular (RV) tricuspid annulus in a population of healthy subjects and to propose reference values according to age decades. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-eight healthy subjects (M/F = 186/112) underwent Doppler echocardiography and pulsed Tissue Doppler of tricuspid annulus in apical four-chamber view. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), Doppler indexes of RV outflow tract and of tricuspid inflow, right atrial dimension and inferior vena cava size, and collapsibility were measured. Pulsed Tissue Doppler lateral corner of the tricuspid annulus was also recorded and annular systolic (Sa), early diastolic (Ea), and atrial (Aa) peak velocities and Ea/Aa ratio determined. The ratio of tricuspid E peak velocity and Ea (E/Ea ratio) was calculated as an index of right atrial pressure. The population was divided in seven age decades: 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and >70 years. TAPSE, Sa, Ea, and Ea/Aa ratio were progressively reduced and both Aa and E/Ea ratio increased with the increasing age groups (all P 70 years (P < 0.0001). By multi-linear regression analyses, after adjusting for heart rate and body mass index, age was the main independent predictor of average Sa, Ea, and Aa velocities and of E/Ea ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Ageing shows an independent impact on pulsed Tissue Doppler-derived indexes of RV myocardial function in healthy subjects. Our data provide reference values of pulsed Tissue Doppler of the right ventricle for age decades.
Innelli et al. (2008) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy subjects (n=298). Ageing vs. Younger age groups was evaluated on Pulsed Tissue Doppler-derived indexes of RV myocardial function (TAPSE, Sa, Ea, Aa, E/Ea ratio) (p=<0.0001). Increasing age in healthy subjects was independently associated with progressive reductions in TAPSE, Sa, Ea, and Ea/Aa ratio, and increases in Aa and E/Ea ratio (all P<0.0001).