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Blood pressure levels, left ventricular mass and function are correlated with left atrial volume in mild to moderate

A Milan1, M A Caserta, A Dematteis

  • 1Hypertension Unit, Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. alby.milan@libero.it

Journal of Human Hypertension
|March 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Essential hypertension, or high blood pressure, is linked to enlarged left atrial volume. Blood pressure and body mass index are key factors, highlighting the need for atrial evaluation in hypertensive patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Arterial hypertension significantly increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), leading to higher morbidity and mortality.
  • Left atrial volume (LAV) is a crucial prognostic marker, particularly in older populations.
  • Understanding LAV determinants in younger hypertensive individuals is vital for early risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors of Left Atrial Volume (LAV) in middle-aged essential hypertensive patients (<70 years).
  • To assess the relationship between blood pressure, body mass index, and LAV.
  • To explore the association between LAV and left ventricular structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Cardiac structure and function were evaluated in 458 participants (394 hypertensive, 64 controls) using echocardiography.
  • Multivariate analysis was employed to determine the predictive value of various clinical and echocardiographic variables on LAV.
  • Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and LAV were analyzed in relation to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Main Results:

  • Left atrial volume index (LAVi) was significantly higher in hypertensive patients compared to controls.
  • LAVi was significantly dependent on systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and body mass index (BMI).
  • Enlarged LAV was associated with lower systolic and diastolic function and increased LVMI, particularly in patients with LVH.

Conclusions:

  • Left atrial volume index in essential hypertensive patients is influenced by blood pressure and anthropometric factors like BMI.
  • Left ventricular mass index is the most significant predictor of LAV in this population.
  • Routine evaluation of the left atrium is important in adult, relatively young, essential hypertensive patients for prognostic assessment.

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