[Synergistic effect of hypertension and aging on left atrial volume and function].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of combined hypertension (HT) and aging on left atrial (LA) size and phasic function.


METHODS
This evaluation was based on the data from a cross-sectional study including 738 subjects with high risk for cardiovascular disease from an urban community in Beijing. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to age (41-59, 60-69 and ≥ 70 years) and further into HT and non-HT sub-groups. LA volume index were calculated and LA global longitudinal strain in late diastole (Sa), early diastole (Se), and total strain (Stot = Sa+ Se), and strain rate in late diastole (SRa), systole (SRs), and early diastole (SRe) were measured using off-line speckle-tracking echocardiography.


RESULTS
LA volume index increased significantly in HT groups with aging, whereas no changes could be viewed in non-HT subjects among all age groups. LA conduit index (Se and SRe) decreased with aging in both HT and non-HT subjects with more sever in HT subjects than in non-HT subjects in all age groups. The LA conduit index in 41-59 year-HT, and in 60-69 year-HT subjects were comparable with that in 60-69 year-non-HT subjects [Se (11.0 ± 4.4)% vs (11.6 ± 4.7)%, SRe (1.0 ± 0.4) s(-1) vs (1.0 ± 0.3) s(-1)], and in ≥ 70 year-non-HT subjects [Se(10.1 ± 4.0)% vs (9.5 ± 5.4)%, SRe (0.9 ± 0.3)s(-1) vs (0.8 ± 0.4) s(-1)], respectively. LA reservoir (Stot and SRs) and contraction (Sa and SRa) index also decreased with aging in HT but not in non-HT subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Aging along does not lead to LA enlargement in subects, but it does when combined HT. There is synergistic effect of HT and aging on LA volume and phasic function.
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Ying
Y
Yang
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China. Email: dr_zhangbw@sohu.com.
Baowei
B
Zhang
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Litong
L
Qi
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Wei
W
Ma
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Lei
L
Meng
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Yong
Y
Huo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged