title: Relationship between left atrial size and stroke in patients with sinus rhythm and preserved systolic function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased left atrial (LA) size has been proposed as a predictor of poor cardiovascular outcome in the elderly. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between LA size and stroke in subjects of all ages who presented with preserved left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) and sinus rhythm (SR), and investigated the relationships between LA size and other echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 472 subjects were enrolled in the study (161 men, 311 women) and divided into the stroke group (n=75) and control group (n=397). A conventional echocardiographic study was then performed. Subjects with valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, or coronary heart disease were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean subject age was 65.2+/-5.1 years in the stroke group and 65.6+/-5.9 years in the control group. Mitral inflow pattern and E & A velocity showed no significant relationship with stroke (p=NS, p=NS, respectively). Left ventricular mass index and LA dimension were significantly related to stroke (p=0.003, p=0.023, respectively), and hypertension showed a marginal relationship with stroke (p=0.050). Age was not related to stroke in the present study (p=NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LA dimension is significantly related to the incidence of stroke. Therefore, strategies for prevention of stroke in patients with preserved LVSF and SR should be considered in cases of LA enlargement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Fatima General Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Jik
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Byung Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Hyun Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bong Ryeol
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Chun
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D013599:Systole; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*