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Open Access 11-03-2024 | Original Paper

Sex-specific structural and functional cardiac remodeling during healthy aging assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Authors: Leonhard Grassow, Jan Gröschel, Hadil Saad, Leo Dyke Krüger, Johanna Kuhnt, Maximilian Müller, Thomas Hadler, Edyta Blaszczyk, Jeanette Schulz-Menger

Published in: Clinical Research in Cardiology

Abstract

Background

Aging as a major non-modifiable cardiac risk factor challenges future cardiovascular medicine and economic demands, which requires further assessments addressing physiological age-associated cardiac changes.

Objectives

Using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), this study aims to characterize sex-specific ventricular adaptations during healthy aging.

Methods

The population included healthy volunteers who underwent CMR at 1.5 or 3 Tesla scanners applying cine-imaging with a short-axis coverage of the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricle. The cohort was divided by sex (female and male) and age (subgroups in years): 1 (19–29), 2 (30–39), 3 (40–49), and 4 (≥50). Cardiac adaptations were quantitatively assessed by CMR indices.

Results

After the exclusion of missing or poor-quality CMR datasets or diagnosed disease, 140 of 203 volunteers were part of the final analysis. Women generally had smaller ventricular dimensions and LV mass, but higher biventricular systolic function. There was a significant age-associated decrease in ventricular dimensions as well as a significant increase in LV mass-to-volume ratio (LV-MVR, concentricity) in both sexes (LV-MVR in g/ml: age group 1 vs. 4: females 0.50 vs. 0.57, p=0.016, males 0.56 vs. 0.67, p=0.024). LV stroke volume index decreased significantly with age in both sexes, but stronger for men than for women (in ml/m²: age group 1 vs. 4: females 51.76 vs. 41.94, p<0.001, males 55.31 vs. 40.78, p<0.001). Ventricular proportions (RV-to-LV-volume ratio) were constant between the age groups in both sexes.

Conclusions

In both sexes, healthy aging was associated with an increase in concentricity and a decline in ventricular dimensions. Furthermore, relevant age-related sex differences in systolic LV performance were observed.

Graphical Abstract

↓, decrease; ↑, increase; ±, maintaining. Abbreviations: CMR, cardiovascular magnetic resonance; EDV, end-diastolic volume; EF, ejection fraction; LV, left ventricle; MVR, mass-to-volume ratio; RV, right ventricle; SVI, stroke volume index; T, Tesla; VR, volume ratio.

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Title: Sex-specific structural and functional cardiac remodeling during healthy aging assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Authors: Leonhard Grassow
Jan Gröschel
Hadil Saad
Leo Dyke Krüger
Johanna Kuhnt
Maximilian Müller
Thomas Hadler
Edyta Blaszczyk
Jeanette Schulz-Menger
Publication date: 11-03-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Clinical Research in Cardiology
Print ISSN: 1861-0684
Electronic ISSN: 1861-0692
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-024-02430-5

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Sex-specific structural and functional cardiac remodeling during healthy aging assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Graphical Abstract

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Graphical Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

Incentivised to exercise

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page