Using traditional measurements of the left atrial diameter to predict the left atrial volume index.
BACKGROUND
Left atrial enlargement by echocardiography is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, yet the best method for assessing left atrial size has not been established. We sought to correlate the traditional left atrial diameter (LAD) measured in the parasternal view with the recently characterized left atrial volume index (LAVI).


METHODS
100 routine clinical patients who received a transthoracic echocardiogram for customary indications were studied. The LAD and LAVI were measured in each patient.


RESULTS
The mean LAVI was 32.8 milliliters per square meter (ml/m(2)) and the LAD was 46.8 millimeters (mm). LAD > 4.7 centimeters (cm) was predictive of LAVI > 32 ml/m(2) (P < 0.001; OR 17.33; 95% CI = 5.96-50.44).


CONCLUSIONS
LAD > 4.7 cm via the traditional method can be used to indicate left atrial enlargement. However, a LAD < or = 4.7 cm does not correlate well with the LAVI, and in such patients, extreme caution should be employed when using the LAD to estimate cardiac prognosis.
Kedia
Gautam
G
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sarver Heart Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Habibzadeh
Mohammed Reza
MR
Kudithipudi
Vijayasree
V
Molls
Frank
F
Sorrell
Vincent L
VL
D000368:Aged; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment