World Cardiology Conference 2026

Abstract

Background:

Healthy longevity represents a key goal of preventive cardiovascular medicine. Beyond chronological age, biological markers of cardiovascular aging have emerged as clinically relevant tools. This study aimed to estimate cardiac biological age through echocardiographic parameters and determine the prevalence of accelerated heart aging among individuals without manifest cardiovascular disease.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was conducted including 237 consecutive adults who underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac biological age was estimated using validated echocardiographic indices of cardiac aging based on recent literature. The age gap (biological minus chronological age) was calculated for each participant. Accelerated heart aging was defined when the estimated cardiac age exceeded the chronological age beyond reference limits.

Results:

Accelerated heart aging was observed in 30% of the cohort (n = 72). Patients with accelerated heart aging had a mean chronological age of 39.9 years (95% CI, 35.3–44.4), a mean biological cardiac age of 53.8 years (95% CI, 51.0–56.5), and a mean age gap of 12.6 years (95% CI, 11.1–14.3).

Conclusion:

Among adults without known cardiovascular disease, echocardiographic assessment of cardiac biological age identified a high prevalence of accelerated heart aging. These findings underscore the potential of echocardiography as a noninvasive and accessible method for early detection of subclinical cardiovascular aging, supporting its role in preventive cardiology and risk stratification strategies in middle age patients.