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Review
. 2020 Feb;43(2):92-98.
doi: 10.1002/clc.23313. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Cardiac changes associated with vascular aging

Narayana Sarma V Singam  1 , Christopher Fine  1 , Jerome L Fleg  2
Affiliations
Review

Cardiac changes associated with vascular aging

Narayana Sarma V Singam et al. Clin Cardiol. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Cardiovascular aging is a complex process of adaptive structural and functional changes over time. With advancing age, the arterial tree thickens and decreases in compliance, resulting in increased pulse wave velocity, systolic blood pressure, and left ventricular afterload. In response to these arterial changes, the myocardium remodels to maintain systolic function and diastolic filling. These adaptive mechanisms are not necessarily pathologic but increase the susceptibility for myocardial ischemia and heart failure in the presence of common age-associated comorbidities. This article reviews the pathophysiology of cardiovascular aging and discusses therapeutic interventions that may ameliorate these processes.

Keywords: aging and the cardiovascular system; cardiac mechanics; echocardiography; heart failure; remodeling.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual framework of age‐related changes in cardiovascular structure and function. Abbreviations: DBP, diastolic blood pressure; EDV, end‐diastolic volume; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; PP, pulse pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure
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MeSH terms