Baseline echocardiography in elderly individuals with cardiovascular risk factors revealed a high prevalence of structural and functional abnormalities, including left ventricular remodeling in 40% and diastolic dysfunction in 27% of participants.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,441)
Open-label
Yes
What is the prevalence of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities detected by conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography in elderly individuals with cardiovascular risk factors?
Conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography frequently detect structural and functional cardiac abnormalities in elderly individuals with cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting its potential utility for screening.
BACKGROUND: Elderly individuals occupy an increasing part of the general population. Conventional and speckle-tracking transthoracic echocardiography may help guide risk stratification in these individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential utility of conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography in the screening of cardiac abnormalities in the elderly population. METHODS: Two cohorts of elderly individuals (sample size: 1441 and 944) were analyzed, who were part of a randomized controlled clinical trial (LOOP study) and of an observational study (Copenhagen City Heart Study), recruiting participants from the general population >70 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or prior stroke) and sinus rhythm. Participants underwent a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examination, including myocardial speckle tracking. Cardiac abnormalities were defined according to the ASE/EACVI guidelines. RESULTS: Structural cardiac abnormalities such as left ventricular (LV) remodeling, mitral annular calcification (MAC), and aortic valve sclerosis (with or without stenosis) were highly prevalent in the LOOP study (40%, 39%, and 27%, respectively). Moreover, a high prevalence of functional cardiac alterations such as LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), abnormal LV longitudinal systolic strain (GLS), and abnormal left atrial (LA) reservoir strain was present in the LOOP study (27%, 18%, and 9%, respectively). Likewise, the rate of LVDD, abnormal GLS, and abnormal LA reservoir strain was comparable in the validation sample from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. In line with these findings, subjects with LV remodeling, MAC, and aortic valve changes had a higher prevalence of LVDD, abnormal GLS, and abnormal LA reservoir strain than those without structural cardiac alterations. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight the potential clinical utility of conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography in the screening of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities in the elderly population. Further studies are warranted to determine the prognostic relevance of these findings.
Olsen et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular risk factors in elderly individuals (n=1,441). Conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography was evaluated on Prevalence of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities. Baseline echocardiography in elderly individuals with cardiovascular risk factors revealed a high prevalence of structural and functional abnormalities, including left ventricular remodeling in 40% and diastolic dysfunction in 27% of participants.