Ageing Alters Right Ventricular But Not Left Ventricular Myocardial Mechanics
Author(s)
Stewart, Glenn
Johnson, Bruce
Balmain, Bryce
Shino, Kenji
Yamada, Akira
Morris, Norman
Chan, Jonathan
Sabapathy, Surendran
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2018
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Introduction: Ageing is associated with a progressive stiffening of the pulmonary vasculature that causes an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and a decrease in compliance. It remains unclear if right ventricular myocardial mechanics adapt in response to age-related remodeling in the pulmonary vasculature.
PURPOSE: Accordingly, this study examined global and transmural longitudinal myocardial tissue deformation (strain) in a cohort of healthy young and middle-aged men to characterize age-related changes in myocardial tissue mechanics.
METHODS: Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to measure left (LV) and right ...
View more >Introduction: Ageing is associated with a progressive stiffening of the pulmonary vasculature that causes an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and a decrease in compliance. It remains unclear if right ventricular myocardial mechanics adapt in response to age-related remodeling in the pulmonary vasculature. PURPOSE: Accordingly, this study examined global and transmural longitudinal myocardial tissue deformation (strain) in a cohort of healthy young and middle-aged men to characterize age-related changes in myocardial tissue mechanics. METHODS: Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to measure left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular strain in 10 young men (YM; Age: 27 ± 2yr, BMI: 23.2 ± 2.4m2) and 10 middle aged men (MAM; Age: 61 ± 7yr, BMI: 25.9 ± 3.2m2). A transmural strain gradient was calculated as the difference between endocardial and epicardial strain as an index of regional non-uniformity. RESULTS: Systemic blood pressure was similar in young and middle aged men (YM: 118 ± 4mmHg vs MAM: 122 ± 4mmHg, p > 0.05), while echocardiographic estimates of pulmonary blood pressure via the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient were greater in middle aged men (YM: 17 ± 4mmHg vs MAM: 25 ± 6mmHg, p < 0.05). LV and RV dimensions were similar (p > 0.05) in young (LV EDV: 118 ± 19mL; RV EDA: 18.3 ± 2.2cm2) and middle aged men (LV EDV: 118 ± 17mL; RV EDA: 17.3 ± 3.8cm2). LV global longitudinal strain (YM: -17.5 ± 1.0% vs MAM: -18.0 ± 1.0%, p > 0.05) was similar in young and middle aged men, while RV global longitudinal strain (YM: -27.3 ± 1.8% vs MAM: -22.5 ± 1.7%, p<0.01) was lower in middle aged men. LV transmural strain gradient (YM: -4.6 ± 0.4% vs MAM: -4.6 ± 0.4%, p > 0.05) was similar in young and middle aged men, while RV transmural strain gradient (YM: -1.1 ± 0.4% vs MAM: -5.5 ± 0.5%, p<0.01) was higher in middle aged men. CONCLUSION: Ageing was associated with global and regional alterations in RV myocardial mechanics, while LV function was unaltered. Specifically, ageing resulted in a decrease in RV global strain and an increase in transmural non-uniformity (i.e., increased transmural strain gradient). Differences in LV and RV myocardial architecture and age-related changes in the pulmonary vasculature are possible explanations for opposing LV and RV functional remodeling in response to ageing.
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View more >Introduction: Ageing is associated with a progressive stiffening of the pulmonary vasculature that causes an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and a decrease in compliance. It remains unclear if right ventricular myocardial mechanics adapt in response to age-related remodeling in the pulmonary vasculature. PURPOSE: Accordingly, this study examined global and transmural longitudinal myocardial tissue deformation (strain) in a cohort of healthy young and middle-aged men to characterize age-related changes in myocardial tissue mechanics. METHODS: Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to measure left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular strain in 10 young men (YM; Age: 27 ± 2yr, BMI: 23.2 ± 2.4m2) and 10 middle aged men (MAM; Age: 61 ± 7yr, BMI: 25.9 ± 3.2m2). A transmural strain gradient was calculated as the difference between endocardial and epicardial strain as an index of regional non-uniformity. RESULTS: Systemic blood pressure was similar in young and middle aged men (YM: 118 ± 4mmHg vs MAM: 122 ± 4mmHg, p > 0.05), while echocardiographic estimates of pulmonary blood pressure via the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient were greater in middle aged men (YM: 17 ± 4mmHg vs MAM: 25 ± 6mmHg, p < 0.05). LV and RV dimensions were similar (p > 0.05) in young (LV EDV: 118 ± 19mL; RV EDA: 18.3 ± 2.2cm2) and middle aged men (LV EDV: 118 ± 17mL; RV EDA: 17.3 ± 3.8cm2). LV global longitudinal strain (YM: -17.5 ± 1.0% vs MAM: -18.0 ± 1.0%, p > 0.05) was similar in young and middle aged men, while RV global longitudinal strain (YM: -27.3 ± 1.8% vs MAM: -22.5 ± 1.7%, p<0.01) was lower in middle aged men. LV transmural strain gradient (YM: -4.6 ± 0.4% vs MAM: -4.6 ± 0.4%, p > 0.05) was similar in young and middle aged men, while RV transmural strain gradient (YM: -1.1 ± 0.4% vs MAM: -5.5 ± 0.5%, p<0.01) was higher in middle aged men. CONCLUSION: Ageing was associated with global and regional alterations in RV myocardial mechanics, while LV function was unaltered. Specifically, ageing resulted in a decrease in RV global strain and an increase in transmural non-uniformity (i.e., increased transmural strain gradient). Differences in LV and RV myocardial architecture and age-related changes in the pulmonary vasculature are possible explanations for opposing LV and RV functional remodeling in response to ageing.
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Conference Title
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Volume
50
Issue
5S
Subject
Human Movement and Sports Sciences
Medical Physiology
Public Health and Health Services
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Sport Sciences