The aging cardiovascular continuum / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

The atherosclerotic cardiovascular continuum or the conventional cardiovascular continuum(CCC)was first described by Dzau in 2006, describing a series of steps cardiovascular disease undergoes, from risk factors at the beginning to end-stage heart disease(characterized by ventricular dilation, heart failure, and death). The essential features of CCC are myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction due to coronary artery stenosis, which originates from coronary atherosclerosis.O'Rourke proposed the aging cardiovascular continuum(ACC)in 2010 to explained the role of aging, especially vascular aging, in the development of cardiovascular disease.The continuum encompasses progressive deterioration of the proximal aorta properties with increasing arterial stiffness and dilation, resulting in adverse effects on important organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.The two continuums are both distinct and related, complement each other and fully illustrate the occurrence and progression of the cardiovascular continuum.