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Left atrial size and function are related to pulmonary hypertension in coronary artery disease

Yoko Miyata-Fukuoka1, Masaki Izumo, Yuichi Shimada

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|February 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial size and function are linked to pulmonary hypertension in coronary artery disease patients. Larger left atrial volume index (LAV) independently predicts pulmonary hypertension, aiding in risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Cardiovascular Imaging

Background:

  • Left atrial (LA) size is a key indicator of diastolic burden and a predictor of cardiovascular mortality.
  • The relationship between LA size, function, and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between left atrial size and function and the presence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with coronary artery disease.
  • To identify predictors of pulmonary hypertension in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 107 patients with CAD using echocardiography.
  • Assessed LA size via LA volume index (LAV), LA area index, and LA dimension.
  • Measured LA emptying fraction and various Doppler parameters (E, A, E/A, DT, E', A', E/E'), and estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP).

Main Results:

  • All LA size parameters demonstrated a significant association with PH.
  • LA volume index (LAV) emptying fraction, age, E, E/A, E/E', and A' were significantly associated with PH.
  • Multivariate analysis identified maximum LAV, E, E/A ratio, and age as independent predictors of PH. A maximum LAV > 35.6 mL/m(2) predicted PASP > 40 mmHg with 83.9% sensitivity and 62.2% specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Left atrial volume index (LAV) is significantly associated with pulmonary hypertension in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • LA size and function parameters, particularly LAV, can aid in predicting PH in CAD patients.
Abstract

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