Myocardial mechanics in metabolic syndrome and aging populations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death worldwide. The clustering of metabolic risk factors, defined as metabolic syndrome (MetS), and aging are two separate factors that significantly increase the risk of CVD. Both aging and MetS influence CVD by impairing heart tissue (myocardial) function. However, the exact understanding of mechanisms and evolution of these impairments are incomplete in MetS and aging populations. One of the most accessible and utilised techniques for assessing myocardial function is conventional transthoracic echocardiography, and more recently speckle tracking echocardiography (STE); a robust and sensitive modality of echocardiography, capable of assessing myocardial function in both the longitudinal and circumferential axes.