[Synergistic effect of hypertension and aging on left atrial volume and function]

To assess the effect of combined hypertension (HT) and aging on left atrial (LA) size and phasic function.

This evaluation was based on the data from a cross-sectional study including 738 subjects with high risk for cardiovascular disease from an urban community in Beijing. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to age (41-59, 60-69 and ≥ 70 years) and further into HT and non-HT sub-groups. LA volume index were calculated and LA global longitudinal strain in late diastole (Sa), early diastole (Se), and total strain (Stot = Sa+ Se), and strain rate in late diastole (SRa), systole (SRs), and early diastole (SRe) were measured using off-line speckle-tracking echocardiography.

LA volume index increased significantly in HT groups with aging, whereas no changes could be viewed in non-HT subjects among all age groups. LA conduit index (Se and SRe) decreased with aging in both HT and non-HT subjects with more sever in HT subjects than in non-HT subjects in all age groups. The LA conduit index in 41-59 year-HT, and in 60-69 year-HT subjects were comparable with that in 60-69 year-non-HT subjects [Se (11.0 ± 4.4)% vs (11.6 ± 4.7)%, SRe (1.0 ± 0.4) s(-1) vs (1.0 ± 0.3) s(-1)], and in ≥ 70 year-non-HT subjects [Se(10.1 ± 4.0)% vs (9.5 ± 5.4)%, SRe (0.9 ± 0.3)s(-1) vs (0.8 ± 0.4) s(-1)], respectively. LA reservoir (Stot and SRs) and contraction (Sa and SRa) index also decreased with aging in HT but not in non-HT subjects.

Aging along does not lead to LA enlargement in subects, but it does when combined HT. There is synergistic effect of HT and aging on LA volume and phasic function.