title: Metabolic syndrome is associated with atrial electrical and mechanical dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to investigate the left atrial (LA) electrical and mechanical functions in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 87 patients with MetS and 67 controls. Intra-atrial and interatrial electromechanical delays (EDs) were measured with tissue Doppler imaging. P-wave dispersion (Pd) was calculated from the 12-lead electrocardiograms. LA volumes were measured echocardiographically by the biplane area-length method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-atrial and interatrial EDs and Pd were significantly higher in patients with MetS (10.3 ± 6.3, 21.0 ± 11.5 and 41.7 ± 10.8) than in controls (7.4 ± 5.5, 12.3 ± 10.4 and 29.2 ± 7.4; p = 0.003, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The LA preatrial contraction volume and active emptying volumes were higher in this population, but the LA passive emptying fraction was lower. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, the presence of MetS, LA active emptying volume and left ventricular early diastolic (E) wave velocity/late diastolic (A) wave velocity (E/A) ratios were independent correlates of interatrial ED (p = 0.002, p = 0.001 and p = 0.025, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that intra-atrial and interatrial EDs and Pd were prolonged and LA mechanical functions were impaired in patients with MetS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Kazım Serhan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Özcan
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sayar
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kemaloglu
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erer
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gurkan
authors.forename: Nazmiye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Dilaver
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oz
authors.forename: Ali Nazmi
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Calik
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bolca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D055815:Young Adult