Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Coronary Heart Disease in Elderly

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome, a concurrence of disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism, over- weight and abdominal fat distribution, dyslipidemia and hypertension, is associated with subsequent de- velopment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease in elderly greater than 65 years old. METHODS: Eighty two elderly patients greater than 65 years old who underwent coronary angiography were divided into two groups with metabolic syndrome or without metabolic syndrome, and assessed the association with coronary angiographic finding. The metabolic syndrome factors and cardiovascular risk factors of JNC 7 were investigated to assess the relationship with coronary heart disease in elderly. Coronary heart disease was defined as 50% or greater diameter in stenosis of coronary artery in coronary angiography. RESULTS: In elderly patients with metabolic syndrome, coronary angiographically abnormal findings(p<0.05) and multi vessel disease findings(p<0.05) were presented significantly higher than non metabolic syndrome patients. In elderly patients with 3 and more cardiovascular risk factors of JNC 7, coronary angiographically abnormal findings(p<0.05) and multi vessel disease findings(p=0.059) were presented more than the other patients. Diabetes mellitus was related significantly with coronary heart disease(p value 0.044). CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, metabolic syndrome was significantly related with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus had strong relationship with coronary heart disease. Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors of JNC 7 should be further evaluated to assess the relationship with coronary heart disease in the future.

A Case of Ischemic Angina with Heart Failure due to Congenital Coronary Aterial Anomaly

Coronary artery fistula is an unusual anomaly in elderly patients that consists of a communication bet- ween one of the coronary arteries and other cardiac chambers or veins. It causes many cardiac compli- cations due to hemodynamic changes, and thus has recognized its clinical significance. It occurs usually in congenital origin, but also occurs secondarily in traumatic or neoplastic or artherosclerotic coronary diseases. Congenital coronary artery fistula is a very rare congenital anomaly that results in multiple hemodynamic complications. It has reported rarely in elderly patients, that induces myocardial ischemia due to coronary steal syndrome and heart failure that caused by diastolic volume overload via a left to left shunt. We observed a 68-year-old male patient with exertional chest pain and dyspnea, in whom selective coronary angiography revealed abnormal reticular communication between left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery and drained to left ventricle through multiple microfistulous channels. We report this patient case who complicated by myocardial ischemia and left ventricular failure those caused by hemodynamic complication due to multiple coronary artery-left ventricular fistulae.

A Case of Ischemic Angina with Heart Failure due to Congenital Coronary Aterial Anomaly

Coronary artery fistula is an unusual anomaly in elderly patients that consists of a communication bet- ween one of the coronary arteries and other cardiac chambers or veins. It causes many cardiac compli- cations due to hemodynamic changes, and thus has recognized its clinical significance. It occurs usually in congenital origin, but also occurs secondarily in traumatic or neoplastic or artherosclerotic coronary diseases. Congenital coronary artery fistula is a very rare congenital anomaly that results in multiple hemodynamic complications. It has reported rarely in elderly patients, that induces myocardial ischemia due to coronary steal syndrome and heart failure that caused by diastolic volume overload via a left to left shunt. We observed a 68-year-old male patient with exertional chest pain and dyspnea, in whom selective coronary angiography revealed abnormal reticular communication between left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery and drained to left ventricle through multiple microfistulous channels. We report this patient case who complicated by myocardial ischemia and left ventricular failure those caused by hemodynamic complication due to multiple coronary artery-left ventricular fistulae.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic functions in Elderly Patients with Pulmonary congestion and in Asymptomatic Elders

BACKGROUND: The recent studies shows that LV relaxation abnormalities are the important factors of heart failure in elders. To determine the association between LV diastolic functions and heart failure, we assessed LV diastolic functions in elderly patients with pulmonary congestion and in asymptomatic elders by using pulsed doppler echocardiography. METHODS: In order to assess LV diastolic function, we performed pulsed doppler echocardiography to elderly patients with pulmonary congestion and asymptomatic elders from Mar.2001 to Sep.2001. The following parameters were used as indices of LV diastolic function; Mitral E wave(E), Mitral A wave(A), Deceleration time(DT), Isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT), Systolic pulmonary venous flow(PVs), Diastolic pulmonary venous flow(PVd). RESULTS: In elderly patients groups, there was significant increase in deceleration time compared with asymptomatic elders(255.83+/-54.41 vs 210.80+/-48.53, p<0.05). There was significant increase in isovolumic relaxation time in elderly patient group compared with asymptomatic elders(123.06+/-25.07 vs 98.78+/-15.12, p<0.01). Although there was no significant difference, decreased E/A ratio and increased PVs/PVd were noted in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results shows that the impairments of LV diastolic function were noted in both groups. Especially DT and JVRT were significant increase in elderly patient group with pulmonary congestion. Therefore these parameters, such as DT, IVRT, can be helpful as predictive indices of diastolic heart failure in elders.

Comparison of Left Ventricular Diastolic dysfunctions in Chronic Renal Failure(CRF) Patients and in Elderly Patients

BACKGROUND: We consider that heart failure in elderly and Chronic renal failure patients is closely related to LV diastolic dysfunction. To determine the association between LV diastolic functions and heart failure, we assessed LV diastolic functions in elderly patients with pulmonary congestion and in Chronic renal failure patients by using pulsed doppler echocardiography. METHODS: In order to assess LV diastolic function, we performed pulsed doppler echocardiography on elderly patients with pulmonary congestion and Chronic Renal Failure patients from Nov; 2000 to June; 2001. The following parameters were used as indices of LV diastolic function; Mitral E wave(E), Mitral A wave(A), F/A ratio, Deceleration time(DT), Isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT), Systolic pulmonary venous flow(PVs), Diastolic pulmonary venous flow(PVd), PVs/PVd ratio. RESULTS: In elderly patients groups with pulmonary congestion, there was significant decreased in E/A ratio compared with CRF patients(0.693+/-0.18 vs 0.905+/-0.116, p<0.01). There was significant increase in deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time in elderly patients with pulmonary congestion compared with CRF patients(DT 255.83+/-54.41 vs 210.80+/-48.53 p<0.05, IVRT; 123.06+/-26.07 vs 98.75+/-15.12, p<0.01). Although there was no significant difference, increased PVs/PVd ratio was noted in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results shows that the impairments of LV diastolic function were noted in both groups. Especially F/A ratio was significant decreased elderly patient group with pulmonary congestion and DT, IVRT were significant increase in elderly patient group with pulmonary congestion. Therefore Left ventricular relaxation is progressively impaired in old age and impaired LV relaxation results in in LV diastolic dysfunction But LV hypertrophy in ESRD patients results in LV diastolic dysfunction.