P2248Longitudinal changes in cardiac function at the extremes of aging

Background: People over the age of 85 (the “oldest old”) are the world's most rapidly growing age group. The aging of the population poses an increasing challenge for cardiovascular care given the high frequency of cardiac death in this population Limited longitudinal data on cardiac function is available and has generally been performed in the clinic setting. Purpose: We have previously assessed cardiac function in a an age-homogenouos, community-dwelling population at 85–6 years of age. The aim of the current study was to reassess cardiac structure and function and determine longitudinal changes in this unique population at age 94 years using home echocardiography. Methods: Subjects were recruited from the Jerusalem Longitudinal Cohort Study that was initiated in 1990 and has followed an age homogenouos cohort of West Jerusalem residents born between June 1920 and May 1921. Echocardiography was initially performed in 450 randomly selected subjects at ages 85–6 and repeated in surviving subjects at age 94. Exams at both time points were performed by the same technician and interpreted by the same physician. All subjects had standard 2-D and Doppler echocardiography at their place of residence with a portable echocardiograph and standard assessment of cardiac structure and function.