Left atrial structure and function and clinical outcomes in the general population

Sachin Gupta, Susan A Matulevicius, Colby R. Ayers, Jarett D Berry, Parag C. Patel, David W. Markham, Benjamin D Levine, Kelly M Chin, James A de Lemos, Ronald M Peshock, Mark H Drazner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

173 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims Left atrial (LA) structural and functional abnormalities may be subclinical phenotypes, which identify individuals at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Methods and results Maximum LA volume (LAmax) and LA emptying fraction (LAEF) were measured via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 1802 participants in the Dallas Heart Study. The associations of LAEF and LAmax indexed to body surface area (LAmax/BSA) with traditional risk factors, natriuretic peptide levels, and left ventricular (LV) structure [end-diastolic volume (EDV) and concentricity0.67 (mass/EDV0.67)] and function (ejection fraction) were assessed using linear regression analysis. The incremental prognostic value of LAmax/BSA and LAEF beyond traditional risk factors, LV ejection fraction, and LV mass was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards model. Both increasing LAmax/BSA and decreasing LAEF were associated with hypertension and natriuretic peptide levels (P , 0.05 for all). In multivariable analysis, LAmax/BSA was most strongly associated with LV end-diastolic volume/BSA, while LAEF was strongly associated with LV ejection fraction and concentricity0.67. During a median follow-up period of 8.1 years, there were 81 total deaths. Decreasing LAEF [hazard ratio (HR) per 1 standard deviation (SD) (8.0%): 1.56 (1.32-1.87)] but not increasing LAmax/BSA [HR per 1 SD (8.6 mL/m2): 1.14 (0.97-1.34)] was independently associated with mortality. Furthermore, the addition of LAEF to a model adjusting Framingham risk score, diabetes, race, LV mass, and ejection fraction improved the c-statistic (c-statistics: 0.78 vs. 0.77; P , 0.05, respectively), whereas the addition of LAmax/BSA did not (c-statistics: 0.76, P = 0.20). Conclusion In the general population, both LAmax/BSA and LAEF are important subclinical phenotypes but LAEF is superior and incremental to LAmax/BSA

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)278-285
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean heart journal
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 21 2013

Keywords

  • Left atrial systolic function
  • Left atrial volume index
  • Population

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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