Key result
Echocardiographic evaluation of 58 patients over age 90 revealed that none had a completely normal echocardiogram, with 52% exhibiting left ventricular hypertrophy and 31% having aortic stenosis.
Why the study?
What are the in vivo echocardiographic and Doppler findings in patients over the age of 90?
Observational (n=58)
What are the in vivo echocardiographic and Doppler findings in patients over the age of 90?
Echocardiographic abnormalities are ubiquitous in nonagenarians, with high prevalences of left atrial enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic stenosis, though most maintain normal ventricular size and wall motion.
Expected echocardiographic abnormalities in nonagenarians warrant cautious interpretation without symptoms; leaves open their prognostic and management implications.
Although the effects of aging on the heart have been reviewed, these reviews are primarily based on autopsy findings. We report the echocardiographic and Doppler findings in 58 patients over the age of 90. Half of the patients had enlarged left atria, but the large majority had normal-sized ventricles and aortic roots. Left ventricular wall motion was normal or increased in 71% and 52% had left ventricular hypertrophy. Aortic stenosis (all grades) was present in 31%. Other valve lesions are reviewed. None of our patients had a completely normal echocardiogram, even when mild valvular regurgitation is considered normal.
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Tunick et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Nonagenarians (n=58). Age > 90 years was evaluated on Echocardiographic abnormalities. Echocardiographic evaluation of 58 patients over age 90 revealed that none had a completely normal echocardiogram, with 52% exhibiting left ventricular hypertrophy and 31% having aortic stenosis.