The Influence of Age on Hemodynamic Parameters During Rest and Exercise in Healthy Individuals.

Abstract Objectives The authors sought to obtain hemodynamic estimates across a wide age span and in both sexes for future reference and compare these estimates with current guideline diagnostic hemodynamic thresholds for abnormal filling pressure and pulmonary hypertension. Background At present, the influence of age on hemodynamic function is largely unknown. Because many diseases with proposed cardiac impact are more prevalent in the older population, it is pivotal to know how hemodynamic parameters are affected by age itself to discern the influence of disease from that of physiological aging. Methods Sixty-two healthy participants, evenly distributed with respect to age (20 to 80 years) and sex (32 women/30 men), were prospectively enrolled in the study. Participants were all deemed healthy by medical history, echocardiography, exercise test, spirometry, blood tests, and electrocardiogram. Participants had hemodynamic parameters measured using right heart catheterization during rest, passive leg raise, and incremental exercise. Results During rest, all hemodynamic parameters were similar between age groups, apart from blood pressure. During leg raise and incremental exercise, there was augmented filling pressure (p  Conclusions Cardiac aging was progressive without sex differences in healthy participants. The hemodynamic reference values obtained suggest that the diagnostic threshold for abnormal filling pressure should be individually determined according to age of the patient.