Introduction:

Left atrium (LA) enlargement is a predictor of cardiovascular events.

Objective:

To inform clinical an echocardiographic findings related to LA enlargement in patients with normal left ventricle (LV) systolic function without valvulopathy or cardiomyopathy, and gender differences.

Methods:

Forty patients with LV ejection fraction ≥ 50% were evaluated with a complete transthoracic echocardiogram.

Results:

In the sample, 55% were female (n = 22) and 45% men (n = 18); age of 68.5 ± 36.7 years with range of 35 to 87; only hypertension was a significant risk factor. LA volume in female was 56.8 ± 36.06 mL and 73.4 ± 94.04 mL in male; the LA indexed volume was 33.31 ± 14.84 mL/m2 BSA in women and 39.22 ± 56.56 mL/m2 BSA in men (p = 0.05). LV concentric remodeling was found in 52.5% (n = 21) and it was the most frequent structural change; on the other hand concentric hypertrophy was more prevalent in women (p = 0.05) and the diastolic diameter of the LV showed significant difference between genders (p = 0.05). No other significant differences between genders were found in any other parameter.

Conclusions:

Systemic hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor, being more frequent in men, as well as greater extent of LA volume and diastolic diameter of LV; concentric remodeling was very frequent in both genders and LV end diastolic pressures were normal in both groups.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )