The Possible Impact of Aortic Stiffness on Quality of Late Life: An Exploratory Study.

Purpose: Aortic stiffness (AS) is associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in the older population. AS might also influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a result of the negative effects of AS on cognitive and physical morbidity. We aimed to investigate the possible association between AS and HRQOL in people aged 75 years and over.

Short-term changes of blood pressure and aortic stiffness in older patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Both aortic valve stenosis and aortic stiffness are moderators of arterio ventricular coupling and independent predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Studies on the effect of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on aortic functional properties are limited. We performed a study to investigate the possible short-term changes in aortic stiffness and other aortic functional properties after TAVI in older patients.

Aortic stiffness and brain integrity in elderly patients with cognitive and functional complaints.

Purpose: Cerebral white matter lesions (WML) and brain atrophy are frequent in older persons and are associated with adverse outcomes. It has been suggested that aortic stiffness plays a role in the pathogenesis of WML and gray matter (GM) loss. There is, however, little evidence on the association between aortic stiffness and brain integrity in older patients.

Long-term follow-up of quality of life in high-risk patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation for symptomatic aortic valve stenosis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) considered at very high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. The purpose of this sub-study was to evaluate long-term (> 4 years) health-related quality of life (QoL) in octogenarians who underwent TAVI.

Methods: A single center observational registry in twenty patients who underwent frame analysis assessment ≥ 4 years after TAVI.

Increased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in delirium: a pilot study.

Aim: Delirium is a common and severe complication among older hospitalized patients. The pathophysiology is poorly understood, but it has been suggested that inflammation and oxidative stress may play a role. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate levels of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) - a marker of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress - in patients with and without delirium.

Aortic stiffness and the balance between cardiac oxygen supply and demand: the Rotterdam Study.

Objectives: Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We investigated whether aortic stiffness, estimated as aortic pulse wave velocity, is associated with decreased perfusion pressure estimated as the cardiac oxygen supply potential.

Methods: Aortic stiffness and aortic pressure waves, reconstructed from finger blood pressure waves, were obtained in 2490 older adults within the framework of the Rotterdam Study, a large population-based study.