Ischemic Heart Disease and Accelerated Cardiovascular Aging

Abstract

Twenty-one men less than 54 years of age with a previous history of myocardial infarction were studied with the ultra-low frequency acceleration ballistocardiograph. The analysis of each ballistocardiogram is presented. Eighty-one per cent (17/21) of these cardiac patients had an abnormal ballistocardiogram indicative of accelerated cardiovascular aging. This figure of 81 per cent is significantly greater ( p < .01) than the percentage of abnormal ballistocardiograms in an age-matched, overtly healthy male population. It appears that there is a definite association between ischemic heart disease and an abnormal ballistocardiogram indicative of accelerated cardiovascular aging.