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Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
Published on: February 20, 2017
Factors influencing left atrial volume in a population with preserved ejection fraction: Left ventricular diastolic
Seitetsu L Lee1, Masao Daimon2, Tomoko Nakao2
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Left atrial enlargement is linked to moderate and severe left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD). Obesity and low hemoglobin also independently predict increased left atrial volume (LAV), regardless of diastolic function status.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Increased left atrial volume (LAV) is a marker for cardiovascular events and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD).
- The multifactorial pathophysiology of LA enlargement requires comprehensive investigation of clinical factors.
- Few studies have examined LA enlargement causes without valvular disease or LV systolic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between LAV and clinical/echocardiographic parameters.
- To identify factors contributing to LA enlargement in individuals without significant valvular or systolic dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 557 subjects from a health check-up clinic.
- Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were used.
- Independent variables included demographics, comorbidities, and echocardiographic measures.
Main Results:
- LAV index was independently associated with body mass index (BMI), lower hemoglobin, and moderate to severe DD.
- Mild DD did not show a significant association with LAV index.
- Obesity and lower hemoglobin were associated with LAV independently of DD.
Conclusions:
- LA enlargement is independently associated with moderate and severe DD.
- Obesity and lower hemoglobin are independent predictors of LAV, irrespective of DD.
- Findings highlight the role of DD, obesity, and hemoglobin in LA enlargement.
Background:
Increased left atrial volume (LAV) predicts a higher incidence of cardiovascular events and is widely recognized as a major surrogate marker of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD). Although the pathophysiology of LA enlargement is probably multifactorial, few studies have examined comprehensively the clinical factors that lead to LA enlargement in the absence of valvular disease or LV systolic dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated associations between LAV and several clinical and echocardiographic parameters including DD.
Methods:
We enrolled 557 subjects without significant valve disease or LV systolic dysfunction from the health check-up clinic retrospectively. We performed univariable and multivariable linear regression using lnLAV index as the dependent variable and the following independent variables: gender, age, smoking status, drinking habit, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), LV ejection fraction, DD, LV mass index, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, serum total cholesterol, serum uric acid, serum sodium, and serum iron.
Results:
In multivariable analysis, LAV index was independently associated with BMI, lower hemoglobin, and moderate and severe DD compared with normal diastolic function (p<0.001), but not with mild DD (p=0.70).
Conclusions:
LA enlargement was independently associated with moderate and severe DD, but not with mild DD. Furthermore, obesity and lower hemoglobin were associated with LAV independently of DD.
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