Effect of different alcohol consumption levels on the left atrial size: A cross-sectional study in rural China

Previous studies have investigated the relationship between alcohol and ventricular structure; however, few studies have evaluated the relation between alcohol consumption and the atrium size. In this study, we aimed to test the association between alcohol consumption and left atrium (LA) size in the general population.

A population-based sample of 10,211 subjects aged ≥35 years and free from hypertension at baseline were followed from January 2012 to August 2013. Left atrial enlargement (LAE) was defined as the ratio of LA diameter to body surface area exceeding 2.4 cm/m2 in both the sexes. Independent factors for LAE were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses.

The study included 10,211 participants (4,751 men and 5,460 women). Left atrial diameter/body surface area (LAD/BSA) was higher in the moderate and heavy alcohol consumption groups than in the non-drinker group (non-drinker, 20.5±0.03 cm/m2; moderate, 20.8±0.09 cm/m2; and heavy, 20.6±0.06 cm/m2; p<0.001). Both the groups of moderate and heavy drinkers had a higher incidence of LAE than the non-drinker group (6.9% of non-drinkers, 9.9% of moderate drinkers, and 8.4% of heavy drinkers; p<0.001). After adjusting for related risk factors, multiple logistic regression analyses showed that moderate drinkers had an approximately 1.4-fold higher risk of LAE [odds ratio (OR): 1.387, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.056-1.822, p=0.019] compared with the non-drinkers, and the heavy drinkers had an approximately 1.2-fold higher risk of LAE (OR: 1.229, 95% CI: 1.002-1.508, p=0.047) compared with that of the non-drinkers.

Both heavy and moderate drinkers had increased odds for LAE compared with participants with no alcohol consumption in the general population.