Does the age of patients with hereditary hemochromatosis at the moment of their first diagnosis have an additional effect on the standard echocardiographic parameters?

Background: Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited disease in which gene mutation leads to excessive iron absorption and accumulation in different organs, including the heart, which causes damage. Whether the age of patients with HH at the moment of their first diagnosis has an additional effect on the standard echocardiographic parameters was the aim of the study. Material and methods: We prospectively enrolled 20 HH patients, and 20 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers. Analysis of standard echocardiographic parameters was performed and compared in subgroups of ≥50 and <50 years old (yo). Results: Comparing HH patients with healthy volunteers in ≥50 yo subgroup, significant differences were found in parameters regarding diastolic function (IVS thickness, LVM index, Em, E/Em, PV S/D, LAA index and LAV index). In the <50 yo subgroup we did not find the abovementioned differences, however LVEF appeared to be lower in the HH patients. Conclusions: Despite the lack of clinical symptoms of cardiovascular disease and the lack of deviations in the standard echocardiographic examination, there were a number of differences regarding LV diastolic function parameters in HH patients ≥50 yo, whereas differences regarding LV systolic function were more prominent in HH patients <50 yo when compared with healthy subjects.