Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Physiology of human pulmonary hypertension
Disease area: Interstitial lung diseases, Pulmonary vascular diseases

Abstract

Ageing is associated with deterioration in the structure and function of the pulmonary circulation with a decrease in alveolar-capillary surface area. We asked whether age-related changes in the pulmonary circulation limit alveolar-capillary recruitment and gas exchange during exercise in healthy older adults. 5 old (OLD; 66±8 yr, VO_2max 140±31% age-predicted) and 8 young adults (YNG; 28±2 yr, VO_2max 131±17% age-predicted) participated. Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), cardiac output (Q), pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) and membrane diffusing capacity (Dm) were measured via a rebreathe method at rest and during cycle exercise at 25, 50, 75 and 90% of peak power. SaO₂ was measured throughout exercise via pulse oximetry. At rest, DLCO, Vc, and Dm were lower in the OLD vs. the YNG group (22.3±5.8 vs. 29.6±4.7 ml/min/mmHg, 70±26 vs.102±48 ml, 35.2±7.9 vs. 46.6±12.3 ml/min/mmHg, P<0.05). However, DLCO increased linearly with exercise intensity in both groups with no plateau or change in slope in DLCO with increasing Q (Fig. 1). Vc and Dm also increased with progressive exercise in both groups (Fig. 1). SaO₂ did not change during exercise in either group. These data suggest that the age-associated changes in the pulmonary circulation do not impair alveolar-capillary recruitment and gas exchange during exercise in healthy older adults. NIH HL71478

Fig. 1. DLCO, Vc and Dm vs. Q in healthy old (OLD) and young (YNG) adults

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Citations should be made in the following way:
B. Taylor, A. Carlson, J. O‘Malley, A. Miller, B. Johnson (Rochester, United States Of America). Effect of healthy ageing on alveolar-capillary recruitment during exercise. Eur Respir J 2011; 38: Suppl. 55, 2313

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