Left ventricular (LV) diastolic function can be evaluated by obtaining parameters from Doppler analysis of the mitral inflow, which are known to change with increase in age. Pulsed Doppler myocardial imaging (DMI) analysis of mitral annular velocity has been proposed as a more accurate method for evaluation of LV diastolic function. This study sought to find out the age-associated changes in parameters of LV diastolic function acquired from pulsed DMI analysis of the mitral annulus in a large group of heathy Korean adults.

Two hundred and eighty-nine apparently healthy Korean subjects who visited the Center for Health Promotion for routine health checkup were studied. All went through pulsed DMI by echcardiography for acquisition of velocities in the septal, lateral, anterior, and inferior annuli of the mitral valve. Peak early diastolic velocity (Em), peak late diastolic velocity (Am), and their ratio (Em/Am) were obtained and their correlation with age was evaluated. Doppler flow analysis of mitral inflow was also performed. Peak early and late diastolic flow velocity (E and A), deceleration time (DT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were assessed and their relationship with increase in age was also evaluated.

Mean age of the subjects was 55.7±10.9. Em velocities of all portions of mitral annulus showed good correlation with age, showing continuous decline with increase in age (R=-0.60, -0.58, -0.59, -0.58 for septal, lateral, anterior and inferior annuli, respectively, p<0.01). Am velocities showed a significant but minimal increase with increase in age in all of the sampled positions. Em/Am ratio also showed a significant decline similar to the change in Em velocities. The A velocity and E/A ratio obtained from mitral inflow Doppler analysis showed a significant decline and DT and IVRT showed a significant increase with increase in age.

Parameters of left ventricular diastolic function evaluated by pulsed DMI show significant changes that correlate well with increase in age. This supports the finding that left ventricular diastolic function continuously declines with increase in age.