Harmful eating habits and poor lifestyle choices can potentially accelerate the heart's aging process by up to 45 years.
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A recent study reveals a novel method for evaluating the functional age of your heart, comparing it to your biological age, using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Researchers in this retrospective observational study wanted to take a closer look at heart aging. They saw that factors like high blood pressure can speed up heart aging and found that looking at heart structure and function using cardiac MRI could be a useful tool.
To do this, the team used a healthy reference population of 191 participants and compared them to a testing population of 366 participants who had at least one comorbidity, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. Researchers also looked at a "preliminary external validation" cohort of 25 people.
Participants came from five different locations across three countries. Researchers analyzed several components of heart structure and function and developed a model to determine participants' hearts' ages. Afterward, they performed statistical analyses.
Healthy participants' heart ages were largely similar to their real age. However, those with certain health conditions saw their heart ages surpass their chronological age. Participants with a body mass index of 40 or more had a functional heart age 45 years older than their real age! Those with atrial fibrillation also had higher heart functional ages compared to healthy individuals.
The study's findings were published in the European Heart Journal Open.
Using cardiac MRI to determine the heart's age
Analyses based on MRI scans make it possible to assess the heart's age and determine if there are any discrepancies between healthy and unhealthy aging. By doing this, doctors can make well-informed decisions about heart health.
The study found that healthy participants' heart ages roughly matched their real age, but unhealthy participants had heart ages that outpaced their chronological age. The cardiac MRI-derived heart ages were almost five years older than the chronological age of these participants.
Obesity increased functional heart age, with more weight leading to greater heart years. Participants with a body mass index of 40 or higher had a functional heart age 45 years higher than their chronological age. For individuals with atrial fibrillation, heart functional age was also higher than for healthy participants.
Funcational heart age was sometimes higher for other comorbidities in certain age groups. In participants between ages 30 and 69, people with high blood pressure had increased functional heart age compared to healthy individuals in the same age group. Likewise, diabetes increased functional heart age for participants between 30 and 69, with the biggest increase seen in the 40 to 49-year-old group. However, in the 70 to 85-year-old group, participants with diabetes and high blood pressure had lower functional heart ages than healthy individuals of the same age.
Study limitations
The study has some limitations. First, it involved estimations and estimated the functional age of the heart. Second, since the study was not long-term, there's a higher risk for survivor bias. This could minimize how comorbidities affecting older people. Thirdly, researchers did not measure how long participants had the measured comorbidities. There's a possibility that there was variety among unhealthy participants regarding exposure to comorbidities. Bias is noted in certain calculations. Researchers also noted the possibility of selection bias. The study did not assess factors like exercise and diet.
Researchers also acknowledge that there could have been variation in the unhealthy group due to medical treatments. They used exclusion and inclusion criteria that impacted who they could include in the study, such as excluding people with severe chronic kidney disease, which is a contraindication for the MRI scans they used. Development of the age calculation model involved making a number of decisions, and researchers may find areas for refinement.
Test may aid early detection, promote heart-healthy actions
The assessment of a "functional heart age" could be a valuable preventive measure. It could motivate patients to make lifestyle changes and identify those at risk for future heart problems, potentially even evaluating the effectiveness of clinical treatments and interventions.
By comparing a patient's "functioning heart age" with their "chronological age," doctors can communicate cardiovascular risk more effectively, encouraging patients to adopt healthy lifestyles like weight management, blood pressure control, and diabetes management to slow down the decline in heart health. Tracking changes over time allows doctors to adjust treatment plans to minimize damage before it's irreversible.
Heart MRI scans are noninvasive tests with just a few minutes required for checking the heart's age, making it an appealing option for many patients and doctors alike. This approach represents a promising step toward earlier, more accurate detection of cardiovascular risk and more personalized, preventive care strategies.
- This novel method for evaluating heart age uses cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a tool that researchers believe could be beneficial in understanding heart aging.
- The study involved a healthy reference population and a testing population with comorbidities like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity, comparing their heart ages to identify discrepancies between healthy and unhealthy aging.
- Healthy participants' heart ages were similar to their real age, but those with certain health conditions saw their heart ages surpass their chronological age, especially those with a body mass index of 40 or more.
- Obesity was found to significantly increase functional heart age, with more weight leading to greater heart years.
- Participants with atrial fibrillation also had higher heart functional ages compared to healthy individuals.
- In some age groups, certain comorbidities increased functional heart age, such as high blood pressure and diabetes in participants between 30 and 69 years old.
- The study has limitations, including the use of estimations, survivor bias risk, and the potential for selection bias.
- The assessment of a "functional heart age" could serve as a valuable preventive measure, motivating patients to adopt healthier lifestyles and identifying those at risk for future heart problems.
- By comparing a patient's "functioning heart age" with their "chronological age," doctors can communicate cardiovascular risk more effectively and suggest heart-healthy actions like weight management, blood pressure control, and diabetes management.
- Tracking changes over time allows doctors to adjust treatment plans to minimize damage before it's irreversible, offering personalized, preventive care strategies.
- Heart MRI scans, which are noninvasive and require only a few minutes for checking the heart's age, represent a promising step toward earlier, more accurate detection of cardiovascular risk.
