The Impact of Age on Cardiac Electrophysiology

Age-dependent changes seen in multiple ECG parameters, action potential duration, and calcium transient duration have been identified in various studies. To further our understanding of these changes, automated software that calculates cardiac electrophysiology parameters can allow for in depth analysis of optical images. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact that age has on cardiac electrophysiology through verified analysis techniques. A custom mapping software application, Kairosight, was developed to further our understanding of the impact of age. Using a user-specified algorithm, we verified Kairosight’s accuracy in optical action potential and calcium transient duration measurements. This tool was used to quantify age-dependent effects on cardiac electrophysiology. We found significant differences between younger and older guinea pigs in HR, QRS duration, QT interval, as well as QTc through in vivo ECG recordings. However, these significant changes were mostly diminished in our Langendorff-perfused hearts, only identifying a difference between age in RR interval. Action potential and calcium transient durations found significant differences between younger and older guinea pigs primarily at normal sinus rhythm. This data suggests that intrinsic changes influence the ECG due to the lack of differences seen in the excised heart. However, changes in extrinsic factors with age influence the APD and CaD.

Author

• Berk, Fiona

Language

• en

Date created

• 2023

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Biomedical Engineering

Degree

• M.S.

Advisor

• Posnack, Nikki
• Kay, Matthew

Committee Member(s)

• Park, Chung H

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/m326m244f