title: Left Atrial Structure in Relationship to Age, Sex, Ethnicity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left atrial (LA) size is a marker of diastolic function and is associated with atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular outcomes. However, there are no large population studies measuring LA structure. The relationship of demographics and cardiovascular risk factors to LA size is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine associations of LA size with demographic factors, cardiac structure and function, and cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LA volume indexed to body surface area was measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance steady-state free precession and fast gradient echo cine long- and short-axis images in 2576 asymptomatic participants of MESA ([Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis] 68.7 years, 53.0% women, white 42.2%, Chinese American 12.0%, black 24.5%, and Hispanic 21.2%) using biplane and short-axis images. The mean LA volume index was 36.5±11.4 mL/m2in the entire cohort and 35.5±10.1 mL/m2in subjects free of cardiovascular risk factors (n=283). Multivariable analysis included adjustment for demographics, ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors, serological studies, socioeconomic status, left ventricular structure, and medications. In the adjusted analysis, age (β=0.2 mL/m2per year,P<0.0001), male sex (β=-4.2 mL/m2,P<0.0001), obesity (β=1.3 mL/m2,P<0.01), end-diastolic volume index (β=0.4 mL/m2,P<0.0001), Chinese American (β=-2.6 mL/m2,P<0.0001), and Hispanic (β=1.1 mL/m2,P<0.05) ethnicities were associated with LA volume index. Diabetes mellitus and smoking were not associated with LA volume index. LA volumes measured by steady-state free precession were 3% larger than by fast gradient echo cine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, sex, ethnicity and left ventricular structural parameters were associated with LA size. Importantly, the study provides reference values of normal LA volume index.
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zemrak
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Bharath
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ambale-Venkatesh
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Captur
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chrispin
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Ela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chamera
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Mohammadali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazarian
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Saidi A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mohiddin
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: Steffen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.).
authors.forename: João A C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom (F.Z., S.A.M., S.E.P.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (B.A.-V., J.C., E.C., M.H., S.N., J.A.C.L.); Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, United Kingdom (G.C., J.C.M.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.A.B.). bluemked@nih.gov.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bluemke
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D001830:Body Surface Area; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D044465:White People
keywords: body surface area; magnetic resonance imaging