Age, Sex, and Hypertension-Related Remodeling Influences Left Ventricular Torsion Assessed by Tagged Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Asymptomatic Individuals

Abstract

Older age is associated with lower LV volumes and greater relative wall thickness and is accompanied by lower circumferential myocardial shortening, whereas torsion is greater with older age. Hypertensive individuals have greater LV volumes and relative wall thickness and lower circumferential shortening. Torsion, however, is greater in hypertension independently of age and sex. Torsion may therefore represent a compensatory mechanism to maintain an adequate stroke volume and cardiac output in the face of the progressively reduced LV volumes and myocardial shortening associated with hypertension and aging.