title: Association Between Left Atrial Dilatation and Invasive Hemodynamics at Rest and During Exercise in Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transition from an asymptomatic to symptomatic state in severe aortic stenosis is often difficult to assess. Identification of a morphological sign of increased hemodynamic load may be important in asymptomatic aortic stenosis to identify patients at risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (aortic valve area <1 cm2, peak jet velocity >3.5 m/s) underwent exercise testing with simultaneous invasive hemodynamic monitoring and Doppler echocardiography. Cardiac index, pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were recorded. Patients were followed up for the composite end point of death, unplanned hospitalization, or aortic valve replacement. Patients were stratified into 2 groups according to left atrial (LA) volume index ≥35 mL/m2. In 25 patients (64%) LA volume index was ≥35 mL/m2. Aortic valve area was similar between groups (0.81±0.15 versus 0.84±0.18 cm2; P=0.58). PCWP was higher at rest and during exercise in patients with LA volume index ≥35 mL/m2(P<0.01), despite similar cardiac index. At rest, PCWP was <12 mm Hg in 11 patients (44%) with LA dilatation, whereas PCWP was <25 mm Hg in 1 patient (4%) with exercise. LA volume index and E/e' predicted exercise PCWP>30 mm Hg with areas under the receiver operating curve of 0.75 and 0.84, respectively. During follow-up, 14 cardiac events were recorded. LA volume was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.90 (95% confidence interval, 0.92-4.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LA size reflects hemodynamic burden in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Quantitative measurements of LA and diastolic function are associated with left ventricular filling pressures with exercise and could be used to identify asymptomatic patients with increased hemodynamic burden.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02395107.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.). nicolaj.christensen@rsyd.dk.
authors.forename: Nicolaj Lyhne
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Jordi Sanchez
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carter-Storch
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Rine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakkestrøm
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Flemming Hald
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Steffensen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Eva Vad
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Videbæk
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark (N.L.C., J.S.D., R.C.-S., R.B., E.V.S., L.V., J.E.M.); Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (K.J.), and Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark (F.H.S.).
authors.forename: Jacob Eifer
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D019540:Area Under Curve; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D016275:Atrial Function; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012372:ROC Curve; D012146:Rest; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016683:Supine Position; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D017725:Ventricular Pressure
keywords: aortic valve stenosis; asymptomatic conditions; pulmonary artery; pulmonary wedge pressure; rest