The Effects of Hypertension and Aging on Left Ventricular Function during Isometric Exercise

Hemodynamic and left ventricular systolic function were studied by Doppler echocardiography in 14 young and 15 older adult hypertensive patients and in 15 young and 12 older normotensive individuals. Measures were made at rest and during upright deadlift isometric exercise, at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction for 3 min. At rest, young and older hypertensive patients demonstrated impaired left ventricular systolic function compared to both old and young normotensive subjects. The impaired systolic function was associated with less augmentation in systolic indices during exercise compared with resting values in young and elderly hypertensive patients, and to a lesser degree in the normotensive elderly when compared with young normotensives. These data indicate that at rest, left ventricular systolic function may be compromised in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and, to a lesser extent, in the normotensive elderly. However, other factors in chronic hypertension may contribute to abnormal systolic function and override the effects of aging alone.