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Left atrial volume and geometry in healthy aging: the Cardiovascular Health Study

Gerard P Aurigemma1, John S Gottdiener, Alice M Arnold

  • 1University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA. gerard.aurigemma@umassmed.edu

Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging
|October 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study establishes normal left atrial size reference values for healthy older adults. These findings aid in diagnosing left atrial enlargement and assessing cardiovascular risk in the elderly population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Gerontology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • The left atrium is a key indicator of cardiovascular disease.
  • Left atrial enlargement is common in older adults, but normative data in healthy individuals, especially women, are scarce.
  • Standard measurements may underestimate left atrial enlargement due to its 3D structure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish population-based reference ranges for normal left atrial size in healthy older adults.
  • To provide updated diagnostic criteria for left atrial dilation in the elderly.
  • To assess the correlation of left atrial size with demographic and anthropometric factors.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluation of left atrial size in 230 healthy participants (mean age 76 years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study.
  • Utilized standard long-axis measurements, superoinferior and lateral diameters, and estimated left atrial volume.
  • Generated reference ranges based on 95th percentiles, adjusted for age, height, and weight.

Main Results:

  • Established normative reference values for left atrial size in healthy older men and women.
  • Left atrial size indices correlated with weight and body build, but not age or height.
  • Provided data for refining diagnostic criteria for left atrial enlargement.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides crucial normative reference values for left atrial size in healthy older individuals.
  • These data are valuable for improving the diagnosis of left atrial dilation in the elderly.
  • The findings have implications for cardiovascular risk stratification in older populations.
Abstract

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