title: Atrial Dilatation Development in Hypertensive Treated Patients: The Campania-Salute Network.
abstract: Left atrial (LA) dilatation is associated with unfavorable outcome in hypertension. However, there are few data on clinical, demographic, and echocardiographic findings correlated with LA dilatation development.
  
  
  
  From the Campania-Salute Network registry, we identified 5,375 hypertensive patients (52±11 years, 38% women) in normal sinus rhythm, with normal LA diameter (parasternal short-axis <24.0 in women and <25.4mm/m in men), with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, and with at least 12 months of echocardiographic follow-up. We included in the clinic evaluation type of antihypertensive drugs.
  
  
  
  Follow-up duration was of 70±48 months. During follow-up, 647 patients (12%) showed LA dilatation. Patients with incident LA dilatation were older, most likely to be women, more obese, more diabetics, with lower Modification of Diet in Renal Disease, higher total cholesterol, lower uric acid, higher pulse pressure, lower heart rate, higher LV mass, concentric geometry and lower E/A ratio at mitral level, longer E deceleration time, and higher intima-media carotid thickness. They take more drugs, and follow-up was longer (overall P < 0.05). In the Cox analysis, age, female gender, obesity, higher LV mass, LA diameter at baseline, and longer E deceleration time were determinants of LA dilatation. Furthermore, the use of diuretics protected against LA dilatation.
  
  
  
  Our data identify a risk profile for LA dilatation, characterized by older age, female sex, obesity, higher LV mass, and worse diastolic function. In this subgroup of patients, the use of diuretics seems to protect against LA dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Maria-Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Losi
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canciello
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giamundo
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Manzi
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strisciuglio
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy. simogi@unina.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Simone
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trimarco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064752:Atrial Remodeling; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: blood pressure; hypertension.; left atrial dilatation