Table 3.

Changes in mechanical and structural properties of the cardiovascular system with chronological age

Parameter	Age Variation	References
Heart rate	Nonlinear change in M/F	(71)
Stroke volume	Dec. in M/F	(72)
Cardiac output	Dec. by 24% (M) and 7% (F) between 20 and 69 yr old	(73)
Left ventricular ejection time	No change	(74)
End-systolic elastance	Inc. by 51% between 20 and 80 yr old to normalize left ventricular stress (F > M)	(70, 75)
End-diastolic elastance	Inc. by 51% between 20 and 80 yr old to normalize left ventricular stress (F > M)	(70, 75)
Arterial ventricular coupling	Dec. slightly in F; no change in M	(75)
Arterial length	Inc. in proximal aorta length; no change in the lengths of other arterial segments	(76)
Arterial diameter	Inc. in aortic and carotid diameters; no change in the diameters of other arterial segments	(76, 77)
Arterial stiffness	Nonlinear inc.	(78)
Arterial tree compliance	Dec.	(79)
Peripheral vascular resistance	Inc. or no change	(28)

Variations are given for adult males (M) and females (F) and in childhood if available. dec., decrease; inc., increase.