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Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
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Left atrium size and the risk of cardiovascular death in middle-aged men

Jari A Laukkanen1, Sudhir Kurl, Jaakko Eränen

  • 1Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. jariantero.laukkanen@uku.fi

Archives of Internal Medicine
|August 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Echocardiographic measurement of left atrial (LA) size can identify cardiovascular death risk. Larger LA diameter in men is linked to increased mortality, partly due to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Subclinical risk markers identified via echocardiography can improve cardiovascular outcome risk stratification.
  • The prognostic significance of left atrial (LA) size for cardiovascular death risk is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prognostic value of echocardiographically determined left atrial (LA) size in predicting cardiovascular death.
  • To assess the relationship between LA size and cardiovascular mortality in a population-based cohort.

Main Methods:

  • M-mode echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular (LV) mass and LA size in 830 men (aged 42-61) from eastern Finland.
  • A 13-year follow-up period recorded 54 cardiovascular disease deaths.

Main Results:

  • Large LA diameter was a significant risk factor for cardiovascular death, independent of other risk factors.
  • Men with the largest LA diameter (>43 mm) had a 2.3-fold increased risk of cardiovascular death compared to those with the smallest LA diameter (<39 mm).
  • This association was partially explained by left ventricular (LV) mass, losing statistical significance after adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Echocardiographically measured LA diameter is directly associated with cardiovascular death risk.
  • LA enlargement's link to cardiovascular mortality is partly mediated by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy.
Abstract

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