Even in ‘healthy’ individuals, ageing alters left ventricular diastolic function with a decrease in early diastolic filling. There is a paucity of data with regards to right ventricular (RV) parameters with normal ageing. We sought to determine the effect of ageing on RV size and function in a group of ‘healthy’ individuals.

We retrospectively analysed echocardiograms from 60 healthy volunteers in three age groups (20–80 years) from a departmental database. RV area and volume were measured from the apical 4-chamber view and indexed to body surface area. Pulsed-wave tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) was used to obtain right ventricular lateral annular systolic and diastolic velocities. Using Colour Doppler Tissue Imaging (CDTI), mean peak segmental velocities in systole (S′) and in diastole (E′, and A′) were measured from the annular and mid-segments of the lateral RV. There was no change observed in RV area, volume or ejection fraction with increasing age. RV systolic function evaluated by RVEF and S′ velocity were also unchanged with ageing. There was a significant decrease in CDTI and pulsed-wave TDI E′ velocity with age (p<0.05) with a corresponding increase in A′ velocity.

Normal ageing leads to impaired RV relaxation with a reduction in E′ velocity and amplification of the atrial component (A′) without a change in overall RV volume or systolic function.