P5.6 CORONARY FLUID MECHANICS IN AN AGEING CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

DOI

10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.271How to use a DOI?

Abstract

Coronary artery diseases are the most common type of cardiovascular diseases and have an increasing prevalence with age. Epidemiological studies demonstrated that coronary failure is associated with several pathologies (as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, endothelial dysfunction, renal insufficiency). Since the majority of these pathologies has an increasing prevalence with age, little is known about the effect of ageing alone on the coronary circulation.

In this context, the aim of the present work is to isolate the impact of ageing on the coronary flow. A fluid mechanics-based approach is adopted, based on the coupling of the mathematical model of the systemic circulation we proposed and validated with a model of the coronary circulation proposed and validated by Mynard et al (Am J Physiol, 2014). The resulting evolution of coronary pressure/flow waveforms and their coupling with the left-ventricular condition are analysed using impedance analysis and wave intensity analysis.

Confirming results from several clinical studies, we highlight a complex spatiotemporal coronary wave pattern, where intense waves originate from the aorta and from the deep myocardium, during both isovolumic compression and diastolic phase. The subendocardial viability ratio decreases with age, total coronary flow is slightly reduced, and left-ventricular work increases. Consequently, the left-ventricular work per unit of blood flow increases, thus limiting cell oxygen availability abundance, therefore increasing the risk of myocardial infraction.

Our results highlight a physiological age-induced supply/demand unbalance in the coronary arteries, which can augment the risk of myocardial ischemia and can contribute to pave the way to other coronary pathologies.

Open Access

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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Andrea Guala*
AU  - Michele Scalseggi
AU  - Luca Ridolfi
PY  - 2015
DA  - 2015/11/23
TI  - P5.6 CORONARY FLUID MECHANICS IN AN AGEING CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 21
EP  - 21
VL  - 12
IS  - C
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.271
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2015.10.271
ID  - Guala*2015
ER  -