LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY AND A DECREASED E-A RATIO ARE COMMON ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS EVEN IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY 70-YEAR-OLD MEN

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been shown to be a strong, independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and morta lity. Given that several diseases often seen in elderly people, such a s coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension and diabetes mellitus, ar e associated with changes in left ventricular morphology and function, these diseases should be taken into consideration when evaluating myo cardial morphology and function in an elderly population. Methods: As part of a health survey of 70-year-old men in Uppsala, comprehensive t wo-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography was performed in 302 subje cts.Results: After excluding subjects with CHD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other diseases known to affect the heart, a reference gr oup remained of 113 subjects who were taking no regular medication. In this group, normal systolic function was found (mean +/- SD cardiac o utput 4.7 +/- 1.0 l/min, ejection fraction 0.67 +/- 0.07), but 22% of the men showed LVH (left ventricular mass > 150 g/m(2); mean left vent ricular mass in the group 131 +/- 27 g/m(2)). Furthermore, when diasto lic function was assessed by measuring mitral inflow and calculating t he ratio between the peak velocity of early filling (E) and the peak v elocity of atrial filling (A), about 65% showed an E:A ratio < 1.0 (me an 0.95 +/- 0.25). Conclusion: Even when patients with hypertension an d other diseases known to be associated with LVH and diastolic dysfunc tion were excluded from the study population, a substantial proportion of apparently healthy elderly males showed LVH and an E:A ratio < 1.