Introduction: Studies about the reference values of the conventional and
tissue Doppler echocardiography in African populations are limited.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of aging and
gender in left ventricular diastolic function assessed by conventional
and tissue Doppler echocardiography in healthy Angolans. Methods:
Cross-sectional study performed involving healthy participants aged
between 18 and 85 years, attending in a diagnostic center in Luanda,
Angola. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and Doppler study
were performed according to the Guidelines of the American Society of
Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.
Results: A total of 103 men (47.5%) (mean age: 39,5±10,8) and 114 women
(52,5%) (mean age: 43,0±12,5 years) were included. Compared to men,
women were older (p=0,025) and showed significantly smaller body surface
area (p<0,001). Mitral E velocity, and E/e’ ratio were
significantly higher in women compared to men. While, DT of mitral E
velocity was longer in men compared to women (p=0,041), E wave velocity
and E/A ratio show a negative significant correlation with increasing
age (r -0,33; P ≤ 0.001 and r -0,48; P ≤ 0.001, respectively).
Conversely, A wave velocity shows a significant positive correlation
with age (r 0,47; P < 0.001). Average e′ wave velocity shows a
significant negative correlation with aging (r -0,40; P ≤ 0.0001).
Conclusions: In healthy Angolan adult population, the parameters of left
ventricular diastolic function deteriorated with age reflecting a normal
aging process. This must be taken into account when assessing diastolic
function at different age’s categories.
AGE AND GENDER AFFECT LEFT VENTRICULAR RELAXATION IN PATIENTS WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: A TISSUE DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY STUDY