Aged hearts due to obesity and poor lifestyle habits can exceed heart age by 5 to 45 years.
Whatching out for one's heart health is super important as it helps catch heart problems early and find effective interventions.
In a recent study, researchers developed a method to determine the heart's functional age compared to the person's biological age by utilizing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Unhealthy lifestyles and certain chronic conditions, such as obesity and atrial fibrillation (AFib), were found to speed up the heart's functional aging.
To work out how people's hearts fared in healthy versus unhealthy aging, the team looked at factors in the heart's structure and function, as cardiac MRI can be a valuable tool to assess the heart's appearance and performance.
By comparing the heart structure and function of healthy and unhealthy individuals, it was observed that unhealthy participants had distinct heart differences, with a higher median ejection fraction of the left ventricle (the heart's main pumping chamber) compared to the healthy group. Furthermore, unhealthy participants had a higher functional heart age compared to their chronological age. For example, those with obesity or AFib experienced a heart functional age significantly higher than healthy individuals.
As reported in the European Heart Journal Open, the findings of this retrospective observational study provide insights that can aid in early intervention before major heart concerns develop.
Cardiac MRI and Heart Aging
The research team aimed to explore a way to measure the age of people's hearts and what happens in healthy versus unhealthy aging. They noted that certain modifiable risk factors, such as high blood pressure, can affect how fast the heart ages. One potential method to evaluate the heart's appearance and performance is through cardiac MRI.
In this study, researchers looked at various components of heart structure and function, including the dimensions of the heart's cavities and pumping efficiency. They then developed a model to help determine the age of participants' hearts and conducted statistical analyses.
There were noticeable differences in the healthy and unhealthy groups in several components of heart structure and function, with the unhealthy group exhibiting different heart changes compared to the healthy heart aging process.
Health Conditions Linked to Premature Heart Aging
By comparing healthy and unhealthy participants' heart ages, it was found that healthy participants' heart ages were similar to their real age. However, unhealthy participants showed higher heart ages. The cardiac magnetic resonance-derived heart ages were around five years older than the chronological age of these unhealthy participants.
The study revealed that obesity appeared to boost functional heart age, with more weight resulting in higher heart years. For participants with a body mass index of 40 or higher, functional heart age was 45 years greater than their chronological age. Those with AFib also had higher functional heart age than healthy participants.
Additionally, some chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, were found to contribute to increased functional heart age in certain age groups. In participants between the ages of 30 and 69, individuals with high blood pressure and diabetes experienced increased functional heart age compared to healthy participants in the same age category.
Researchers emphasize that the study is an important step towards improved heart health monitoring but has limitations. Nevertheless, the findings could help detect heart trouble early and potentially cease serious problems such as heart failure in the future.
Determining a person's functional heart age through cardiac MRI provides a helpful preventative measure and can motivate people to make positive lifestyle changes. Furthermore, early detection can help identify patients at risk for future cardiovascular events and evaluate their responses to various therapeutic interventions.
- Watching out for one's heart health is crucial, as it allows for early detection of heart problems and effective interventions.
- In a recent study, scientists developed a method to determine the heart's functional age compared to the individual's biological age using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Unhealthy lifestyles and certain chronic conditions, such as obesity and atrial fibrillation (AFib), were discovered to accelerate the heart's functional aging.
- Cardiac MRI can be a valuable tool to evaluate the heart's appearance and performance, aiding in understanding healthy versus unhealthy aging.
- In the study, researchers observed that unhealthy participants had distinct heart differences, with a higher median ejection fraction of the left ventricle compared to the healthy group.
- Unhealthy participants also had a higher functional heart age compared to their chronological age, with conditions like obesity and AFib causing significant increases in heart functional age.
- The results of this retrospective observational study offer insights that can aid in early intervention before major heart concerns develop.
- Cardiac MRI is one potential method to evaluate the heart's appearance and performance, measuring various components of heart structure and function.
- Obesity was found to boost functional heart age, with more weight resulting in higher heart years, and individuals with a body mass index of 40 or higher having a functional heart age 45 years greater than their chronological age.
- High blood pressure and diabetes were also identified as contributing to increased functional heart age in certain age groups.
- Determining a person's functional heart age through cardiac MRI offers a helpful preventative measure and can motivate individuals to make positive lifestyle changes.
- Early detection can help identify patients at risk for future cardiovascular events and evaluate their responses to various therapeutic interventions, contributing to better heart-and-wellness outcomes.
