Doppler Transmitral Flow Velocity Parameters: Relationship between Age, Body Surface Area, Blood Pressure and Gender in Normal Subjects

The effects of age, body surface area, gender, and blood pressure on pulsed Doppler transmitral flow velocity measurements were evaluated in 66 adult men and women, ages 21-78 years, without a history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Measurements were made at the level of the mitral leaflet tips of early and late diastolic transmitral peak flow (filling) velocities, flow times and flow velocity integrals, and of early diastolic flow acceleration and deceleration. Mitral peak flow velocity in early diastole (PFVE) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the 61-70 year age decade (45 ± 10 cm/s) than in the 21-30 year age decade (66 ± 11 cm/s). Mitral peak flow velocity in late diastole (PFVA) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 61-70 year age decade (55 ± 11 cm/s) than in the 21-30 year age group (41 ± 7 cm/s). Mitral A/E ratio (i.e., PFVA/PFVE) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the oldest (1.2 ± 0.3) compared to the youngest (0.6 ±0.1) age group. Early and late diastolic flow times increased with age (r = 0.36 and 0.37, respectively, both p < 0.001), whereas early diastolic deceleration decreased with age (r = -0.59, p < 0.001). Two Doppler parameters - mitral A/E ratio and late diastolic flow velocity integral - were positively correlated (r > 0.65, p < 0.001) with systolic blood pressure. There was no significant relationship between any of the Doppler mitral flow parameters and body surface area, diastolic blood pressure, or gender. Age-related changes in pulsed Doppler transmitral flow velocity parameters must be taken into account when evaluating patients with suspected alterations in left ventricular filling.