Key result
The prevalence of impaired left ventricular relaxation was 2.5% using age- and gender-specific normal values compared to 0.5% using earlier guidelines.
Why the study?
What is the prevalence of echocardiographic indices of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in an elderly population with preserved systolic function, and how does it vary by diagnostic criteria?
Cross-Sectional (n=647)
What is the prevalence of echocardiographic indices of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in an elderly population with preserved systolic function, and how does it vary by diagnostic criteria?
Absolute Event Rate: 2.5% vs 0.5%
The prevalence of isolated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the general elderly population is highly dependent on diagnostic cut-offs and is often asymptomatic, suggesting low specificity of Doppler indices for screening.
Prevalence estimates of diastolic dysfunction vary markedly by criteria; leaves open optimal thresholds for screening in the elderly.
BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the occurrence of isolated diastolic dysfunction (DD) in the general population is limited. AIMS: This population study was performed to assess the frequency and distribution pattern of echocardiographic indices of left ventricular (LV) DD in an elderly population aged 50-89 years in which LV systolic function is preserved. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population (n=764) recruited from the background population answered a heart failure questionnaire and underwent echocardiography. Excluding subjects with a LV ejection fraction <50% or atrial fibrillation, diastolic function was evaluated in 647 subjects. The frequency of impaired relaxation according to earlier guidelines was 0.5%, vs. 2.5% using age- and gender-specific normal values of 'E/A-ratio' and 'deceleration time'. In a subpopulation of 167 participants, 6.6% had 'pseudonormalisation'. No difference was found in the frequency of dyspnea in subjects with impaired relaxation or 'pseudonormalisation' compared to subjects with normal filling pattern. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LV impaired relaxation was highly dependent on the choice of normal (cut-off) values for Doppler indices. Furthermore, our findings suggest that either isolated DD is often asymptomatic, or that Doppler flow derived parameters as a diagnostic method for assessing DD have a low specificity when used as a screening tool in the general population.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pedersen et al. (2004) conducted a cross-sectional in Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (n=647). Age- and gender-specific normal values for Doppler indices vs. Earlier guidelines was evaluated on Frequency of impaired relaxation. The prevalence of impaired left ventricular relaxation was 2.5% using age- and gender-specific normal values compared to 0.5% using earlier guidelines.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: