The Effect of Age on the Hemodynamics

In order to clarify the effect of age on the circulatory system, hemodynamic studies using dye dilution method were performed in 94 healthy individuals of ages 14 to 87 (male 73, female 21) without a history of hypertension, their blood pressure has never exceeded more than 150/90mmHg on repeated determinations. Stroke volume, cardiac output and left ventricular work decreased with age, but heart rate was not correlated with age. On the other hand, total peripheral resistance increased with age. Pulse pressure tended to decrease with age from adolescence to about 45 years and to increase thereafter. These results suggest that the effect of physiological aging on the circulatory system gradually progresses with age, especially the circulatory performance deteriorates about 45 years in Japanese.