What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Healthy (n=20). Intervention: Older age (62 to 73 years) vs. Younger age (21 to 32 years). Primary outcome: Peak early diastolic flow velocity (cm/s) (p=0.0002).

What does this research mean for the field?

Age-related alterations in Doppler left ventricular diastolic filling indexes, including reduced peak early filling and increased atrial filling, occur independently of left ventricular mass, heart rate, contractility, and loading conditions. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether age-related alterations in Doppler left ventricular filling indices occur independently of ventricular mass, heart rate, contractility, and hemodynamic loading conditions.

September 18, 2026Journal of the American College of CardiologyOpen Access

Age-related alterations of Doppler left ventricular filling indexes in normal subjects are independent of left ventricular mass, heart rate, contractility and loading conditions

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Key result

Older age linked to ~32% lower peak early diastolic flow velocity and increased atrial flow.

P=0.0002
n=20

Why the study?

Age-related alterations in Doppler diastolic filling indexes may occur independent of cardiovascular disease and confounding physiologic variables, but this relationship was not fully established.

Population

10 old (62-73 years) and 10 young (21-32 years) healthy male volunteers

Comparison

Older versus younger healthy subjects

Design

Comprehensive Doppler echocardiography, radionuclide ventriculography, and invasive pressure measurements

Authors

DKDalane W KitzmanWake Forest University KSKhalid H. SheikhThe University of Texas at Austin PBPolly A. BeereGeneral / Preventive / Lipids

Discussion

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Implication

Observational study shows age-related changes in Doppler ventricular filling in healthy adults, indicating intrinsic myocardial stiffening independent of heart rate, mass, or loading conditions.

Key Points

To determine whether age-related alterations in Doppler left ventricular filling indices occur independently of ventricular mass, heart rate, contractility, and hemodynamic loading conditions.
Assessed left ventricular diastolic filling dynamics across normal healthy subjects using Doppler echocardiography.
Evaluated concurrent physiological parameters including heart rate, left ventricular mass, myocardial contractility, and cardiac loading conditions.
Doppler-derived left ventricular filling indexes exhibit marked alterations associated with advancing age in healthy subjects.
Observed age-dependent changes in diastolic filling persist independently of left ventricular mass, heart rate, myocardial contractility, and loading conditions.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=20)

PICO

Population

20 healthy male volunteers (10 aged 62-73 years and 10 aged 21-32 years) rigorously screened for cardiovascular disease.

Exposure / Comparator

Older age (62 to 73 years) vs Younger age (21 to 32 years)

Primary Outcome

Peak early diastolic flow velocity (cm/s), p=0.0002

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 56% vs 82%

p-value: p=0.0002

Cite This Study

Kitzman et al. (1991) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=20). Older age (62 to 73 years) vs. Younger age (21 to 32 years) was evaluated on Peak early diastolic flow velocity (cm/s) (p=0.0002). Older age was associated with reduced peak early diastolic flow velocity (56 vs 82 cm/s, p=0.0002) and increased atrial diastolic flow velocity independent of other physiologic variables.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aad55b544f2d2adeb6e342b https://doi.org/10.1016/0735-1097(91)90542-h

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Implication

Observational study shows age-related changes in Doppler ventricular filling in healthy adults, indicating intrinsic myocardial stiffening independent of heart rate, mass, or loading conditions.