Age-related changes in left ventricular structure differ by sex, with men showing greater differences in LV volumes and apical mechanics between young and middle-aged groups than women.
Cross-Sectional (n=82)
Healthy men and women exhibit different patterns of age-related changes in left ventricular structure and mechanics, with men showing greater differences in LV volumes and postmenopausal women showing reduced LV relaxation and mechanics.
OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular function generally decreases with age, but whether this decrease differs between men and women is unclear. Our aims were twofold: (1) to investigate age-related sex differences in left ventricular (LV) structure, function and mechanics, and (2) to compare these measures between pre- and postmenopausal women in the middle-aged group. METHODS: Resting echocardiography was performed in a cross-sectional sample of 82 healthy adults (14 young men, 19 middle-aged men, 15 young women, 34 middle-aged women: 15 premenopausal and 19 postmenopausal). Two-way ANOVAs were used to examine sex × age interactions, and t-tests to compare pre- and postmenopausal women (α < 0.1). RESULTS: Normalized LV mass, stroke volume and end-diastolic volume were significantly lower in middle-aged than young men, but this difference was smaller between middle-aged and young women. Peak systolic apical mechanics were significantly greater in middle-aged men than in middle-aged women, but not between young men and women. Postmenopausal women had significantly lower LV relaxation and mechanics (torsion, twisting velocity and apical circumferential strain rates) compared with middle-aged premenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Our cross-sectional findings suggest that the hearts of men and women may age differently, with men displaying greater differences in LV volumes accompanied by differences in apical mechanics.
Nio et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adults (n=82). Age and sex vs. Young vs middle-aged, men vs women was evaluated on Left ventricular structure, function and mechanics. Age-related changes in left ventricular structure differ by sex, with men showing greater differences in LV volumes and apical mechanics between young and middle-aged groups than women.