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Reference values of left and right atrial volumes and phasic function based on a large sample of healthy Chinese
Yiyuan Gao1, Zhen Zhang2, Shanshan Zhou1
1Shenzhen Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Insights
This study establishes cardiovascular magnetic resonance reference values for left and right atrial size and function in healthy Chinese adults. Age and sex significantly influence these biatrial parameters.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Public Health
Background:
- Left and right atrial (LA and RA) size and function are critical indicators in cardiovascular diseases.
- Establishing normative data is essential for accurate clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reference values for LA and RA volumes and phasic function.
- To analyze age- and sex-specific variations in a healthy Chinese adult population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cine CMR to measure LA and RA volumes (Vmax, Vmin, Vpac) and emptying fractions (EF total, EF passive, EF booster) in 408 healthy Chinese adults (aged 21-70 years).
- Calculated reference values stratified by sex and age decades.
Main Results:
- Significant sex-based differences observed in atrial volumes and function (e.g., men had larger volumes, women had higher emptying fractions).
- Age positively correlated with certain volumes (LAVpac, RAVpac) and negatively with emptying fractions, with sex-specific patterns.
- Aging was associated with decreased total and passive emptying but increased booster emptying in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Provides comprehensive, age- and sex-specific CMR reference values for biatrial parameters in Chinese adults.
- Highlights the significant impact of both age and sex on atrial volumes and function.
Background:
The left and right atrial (LA and RA) size and function are tightly linked to the morbidity and mortality of multiple cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to establish cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reference values for LA and RA volumes and phasic function based on a large sample of healthy Chinese adults.
Methods:
408 validated healthy Chinese adults (54% men; aged 21-70 years) were included. LA and RA maximum, minimum, and pre-atrial contraction volumes (Vmax, Vmin, and Vpac); total, passive, and booster emptying fractions (EF total, EF passive, and EF booster); and total, passive, and active emptying volumes (TEV, PEV, and AEV) were measured on cine CMR. Normal reference values were calculated and were stratified by sex and age decades.
Results:
Men demonstrated greater LAVmax, LAVmin, LAVpac, LAPEV, RAVmax, RAVmin, RAVpac, RATEV, and RAAEV, while women had higher LAEF total, LAEF booster, RAEF total, RAEF passive, and RAEF booster (all p < 0.05). Age was positively correlated with LAVpac and RAVpac in both sexes but was positively correlated with LAVmax, LAVmin, RAVmax, and RAVmin only in women (all p < 0.05). For both sexes, aging was associated with decreased LAEF total, LAEF passive, RAEF total, and RAEF passive, but increased LAEF booster (all p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
We systematically provide age- and sex-specific CMR reference values for LA and RA volumes and phasic function based on a large sample of healthy Chinese adults with a wide age range. Both age and sex are closely associated with biatrial volumes and function.
