title: [Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial volume in asymptomatic ambulatory patients with metabolic syndrome and/or arterial hypertension - is it parameter worth into considerate?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early identification of high-risk patients, including those with arterial hypertension (AH) andlor metabolic syndrome (MS), have a positive effect on the treatment and the cost. Left atrial volume is a well-known, easy to examine prognostic factor in cardiovascular diseases. Impaired function and enlargement of the left atrium could be present in even when asymptomatic patients with AH, but in subjects with MS has not been well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to estimate the left atrial volume index (LAVI) among asymptomatic patients with AH and/or MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients were divided into three groups as follows: 54 patients with MS, 34 with AH and 26 in a control group; next they were underwent the echocardiographic examination. A statistical analysis of LAVI was carried out using the Whitney-Mann test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean LAVI was: 25.20 ml/m2 for the AH group (woman 24.90 ml/m2; men 25.49 ml/m2); 24.90 ml/m2 for the MS (woman 25.78 ml/m2; men 23.63 ml/m2) and 19.20 ml/m2 for the control group (woman 21.77 ml/m2; men 17.97 ml/m2). There was a positive correlation between increased LAVI and AH or/and MS presence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that left atrial volume index enlargement is more common among even asymptomatic patients suffering from hypertension andlor metabolic syndrome. The estimation of LAVI is possible in a routine echocardiographic examination and seems to be an additional useful parameter in description of risk in cardiovascular diseases.
authors: Poradnia Kardiologiczna, Niepubliczny Zaklad Opieki Zdrowotnej Remedium, Nowy Sacz. pkoprowski@interia.pl
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Koprowski
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Kostkiewicz
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Leśniak-Sobelga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged