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Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports

01-12-2012 | Echocardiography (MH Picard, Section Editor)

Echocardiography and the Aging Heart

Authors: David Leibowitz, Dan Gilon

Published in: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports | Issue 6/2012

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Abstract

Improved understanding of changes in cardiac structure and function related to the aging process is critical to design strategies to reduce the high mortality and morbidity related to cardiovascular disease in the growing elderly population. Echocardiography, as a noninvasive, easily portable imaging technique not requiring radiation or contrast media is an ideal method of imaging the aging heart. Echocardiography has provided important insights into changes in cardiac structure and function occurring with aging. These changes include increased wall thickness and LV mass, increased myocardial fibrosis with resulting changes in diastolic and longitudinal systolic function and degenerative calcification of the left-sided valves. In addition, echocardiography has shown the prognostic importance of elevated LV mass, elevated LA volume and decreases in systolic function in the elderly as well as changes in cardiac structure associated with diseases in the elderly such as dementia and functional disability.
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Metadata
Title
Echocardiography and the Aging Heart
Authors
David Leibowitz
Dan Gilon
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 1941-9066
Electronic ISSN: 1941-9074
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-012-9164-2

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