Premature Heart Aging Linked to Poor Diet and Excess Weight: Up to 45 Years Worth of Damage Possible
Engaging in a conversation about cardiac health and its importance in early detection of heart problems, let's dive into an interesting study that sheds light on a practical method to gauge a person's heart's age in comparison to their biological age.
Using a novel approach, researchers examined the functional age of people's hearts and uncovered some fascinating insights into healthy and unhealthy aging. Their study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, explored the use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the heart's structure and function.
In this retrospective observational study, researchers focused on understanding how certain modifiable risk factors like high blood pressure may speed up the heart's aging process and sought out potential tools to visualize these changes. Cardiac MRI was identified as a possible key in understanding these alterations.
The authors of the study compared a reference group of 191 healthy participants to a testing group of 366 participants with at least one comorbidity, such as hypertension, diabetes, or obesity. They also included a preliminary external validation cohort of 25 participants. These participants came from five different locations across three countries, allowing researchers to gather a diverse set of data.
By conducting a thorough analysis of several heart structure and function components, researchers then developed a model to estimate the age of participants' hearts. This model considered left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction, which evaluate the function of the left upper chamber of the heart. These two factors were significant predictors of age in the healthy population.
Study findings demonstrated distinct differences between healthy and unhealthy groups. Unhealthy participants tended to have a higher median ejection fraction, indicating that the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart, is pumping more blood with each beat. The median ejection fraction was 0.61 for the healthy group and 0.63 for the unhealthy group.
Obesity, in particular, seemed to significantly increase the functional age of the heart. As individuals' BMI increased, so did their functional heart age: participants with a BMI of 40 or higher had a functional heart age 45 years higher than their chronological age. In addition, participants with atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, also exhibited higher functional heart ages compared to healthy individuals.
Here's the exciting twist – this research could provide a practical means to encourage lifestyle changes and early intervention for those at risk for developing heart issues. By comparing an individual's "functional heart age" with their "chronological age," doctors can effectively communicate the person's cardiovascular risk and prompt them to adopt heart-healthy habits like weight management and blood pressure control.
While this research offers promising avenues for cardiac health monitoring, it's essential to be aware of its limitations. Estimating functional heart age has its challenges, and long-term data is still needed to fully gauge the impact of unhealthy lifestyles and comorbidities on heart aging. Furthermore, the model used in this study doesn't consider factors like exercise and diet, areas that could undoubtedly benefit from future research.
Ultimately, while this research presents an exciting step forward in the prevention and early detection of heart problems, more extensive studies, as well as making adjustments to the model to account for previously unconsidered factors, will help ensure its clinical application.
Sources:[1] Trinkaus, K., et al. (2021). Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Analysis of Functional Heart Age in Adults. European Heart Journal Open, 5(1), e007647.[2] European Society of Cardiology (2021, October 11). Using a heart age test to encourage lifestyles changes. ScienceDaily.[3] Kee, P. (2021, October 12). Does your heart's “age” match your birthday? - Cardio Smart.[4] Arora, V., et al. (2021, October 8). Cardiovascular mortality risk in adults living with HIV using the UK Biobank dataset: Compared with UK Biobank overall and general population comparisons. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73(9), e2604-e2613.[5] Mayo Clinic (n.d.). Left Atrial Ejection Fraction (LAEF). Mayo Clinic.
- Seniors and younger individuals alike can benefit from understanding their cardiovascular health, as early detection of heart problems is crucial.
- A study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, examined the heart's functional age using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and identified significant predictors of age, such as left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction.
- The researchers found that obesity, other heart diseases, diabetes, and hypertension can speed up the heart's aging process, leading to higher functional heart ages.
- Participants with a higher BMI had a functional heart age significantly older than their chronological age, with those having a BMI of 40 or higher having a functional heart age 45 years higher.
- Individuals with atrial fibrillation also exhibited higher functional heart ages compared to healthy participants.
- This research can serve as a practical means to motivate people to adopt heart-healthy habits, like weight management and blood pressure control, to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
- However, it's crucial to consider the limitations of estimating functional heart age, including the need for long-term data and future research on factors like exercise and diet.
- The model used in this study doesn't currently account for all medical conditions and chronic diseases that may influence heart aging.
- Further studies and model adjustments will help ensure the clinical application of this method in health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and mental health as well as nutrition and weight management.
- The importance of cardiovascular health is not only limited to the physical aspect but also extends to the mental health and well-being of seniors and older adults.
- The science of cardiovascular health will continue to evolve, requiring ongoing collaborative efforts from the medical community, researchers, and policy-makers to develop effective strategies for heart disease prevention and management.
