Heart volume and the prevalence of certain common cardiovascular disorders at 70 and 75 years of age

Heart volume and the prevalence of coronary heart disease, certain ECG-registered abnormalities, hypertension and congestive heart failure were studied in a representative sample of 70-year-olds, who were re-examined at the age of 75. Although previous and the present observations indicate that the heart volume increases with age earlier in adult life in apparently healthy individuals, no further volume change was observed between age 70 and 75. A significant correlation between heart volume and symptoms indicating congestive heart failure was only observed at volumes above 550-600 ml m-2 BSA in males and 500-550 ml m-2 BSA in females. 38% of the men and 26% of the women were without signs of heart disease or treatment for such disease at both 70 and 75 years of age. These figures are, however, obviously too low since a considerable overdiagnosis and overtreatment, mainly of hypertension in females and congestive heart failure exist in the sample. Anginal pain occurred in about 10% of males and females at both ages while ECG-abnormalities suggesting myocardial ischaemia increased in prevalence between age 70 and 75. The prevalence of congestive heart failure was 11% and 8% respectively in males and females of age 70, and had increased in both sexes by about 50% at age 75.