title: Left atrial volume index as a marker of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic Tanzanian diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of left atrial (LA) enlargement and its relation to left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction among asymptomatic diabetic outpatients attending Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiography was performed in 122 type 2 and 58 type 1 diabetic patients. Diastolic dysfunction was defined as peak transmitral blood velocity to medial mitral annulus velocity (E/E') ratio ≥ 15. LA volume indexed to body surface area (LAVI) was considered enlarged if ≥ 29 ml/m(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enlarged LAVI and LV diastolic dysfunction were more common in type 2 than in type 1 diabetic patients (44.3 vs 25.9% and 20.5 vs 3.5%, respectively, both p < 0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, larger LAVI was associated with LV diastolic dysfunction independent of significant associations with LV mass index and presence of mitral regurgitation in type 2 diabetic patients, while LV mass index, lower ejection fraction and longer duration of diabetes were the main covariates of larger LAVI in type 1 diabetic patients (all p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enlarged LA is common among asymptomatic Tanzanian diabetic patients, and particularly associated with LV diastolic dysfunction in type 2, and with cardiomyopathy and lower systolic function in type 1 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen-Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Pilly
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chillo
authors.forename: Ashild E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rieck
authors.forename: Johnson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lwakatare
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutale
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerdts
mesh_terms: D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D013636:Tanzania; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*