Left Atrial Volume Index in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy—Correlation with Left Ventricular Function

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relation of left atrial (LA) volume and LA volume index with left ventricular function and to determine the association of duration of symptoms and left atrial volume index in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, single centre study conducted in India. A total of 50 patients who were admitted to department of cardiology from July, 2008 to February, 2009 with diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy and an ejection fraction of <40% were included. Results: Of the 50 patients, 34 (68%) were males. 27 (54%) patients were in NYHA class II and 23 (46%) patients were in NYHA class III. LA volume was found to be ≥40 ml in all patients. LV function and LA volume were found to be correlated (r = -0.789, p < 0.01). Similarly, there was a correlation between LV function and LA volume index (r = -0.826, p < 0.01). There was no correlation between LA volume index and duration of symptoms (r = 0.04). Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is a strong inverse correlation between LA volume and left ventricular function and also between LA volume index and left ventricular function. The patients with NYHA class III were having larger left atrial volume than those with NYHA class II. Moreover, the duration of symptoms has no correlation with left atrial volume index.

Implications of left atrial volume index in patients with three-vessel coronary disease:A 6.6-year follow-up cohort study

Background:Risk assessment and treatment stratification for three-vessel coronary disease(TVD)remain challenging.This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of left atrial volume index(LAVI)with the Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery(SYNTAX)score II,and its association with the long-term prognosis after three strategies(percutaneous coronary intervention[PCI],coronary artery bypass grafting[CABG],and medical therapy[MT])in patients with TVD.Methods:This study was a post hoc analysis of a large,prospective cohort of patients with TVD in China,that aimed to determine the long-term outcomes after PCI,CABG,or optimal MT alone.A total of 8943 patients with TVD were consecutively enrolled between 2004 and 2011 at Fuwai Hospital.A total of 7818 patients with available baseline LAVI data were included in the study.Baseline,procedural,and follow-up data were collected.The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events(MACCE),which was a composite of all-cause death,myocardial infarction(MI),and stroke.Secondary endpoints included all-cause death,cardiac death,MI,revascularization,and stroke.Long-term outcomes were evaluated among LAVI quartile groups.Results:During a median follow-up of 6.6 years,a higher LAVI was strongly associated with increased risk of MACCE(Q3:hazard ratio[HR]1.20,95%confidence interval[CI]1.06-1.37,P=0.005;Q4:HR 1.85,95%CI 1.64-2.09,P<0.001),all-cause death(Q3:HR 1.41,95%CI 1.17-1.69,P<0.001;Q4:HR 2.54,95%CI 2.16-3.00,P<0.001),and cardiac death(Q3:HR 1.81,95%CI 1.39-2.37,P<0.001;Q4:HR 3.47,95%CI 2.71-4.43,P<0.001).Moreover,LAVI significantly improved discrimination and reclassification of the SYNTAX score II.Notably,there was a significant interaction between LAVI quartiles and treatment strategies for MACCE.CABG was associated with lower risk of MACCE than MT alone,regardless of LAVI quartiles.Among patients in the fourth quartile,PCI was associated with significantly increased risk of cardiac death compared with CABG(HR:5.25,95%CI:1.97-14.03,P=0.001).Conclusions:LAVI is a potential index for risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in patients with three-vessel coronary disease.CABG is associated with improved long-term outcomes compared with MT alone,regardless of LAVI quartiles.When LAVI is severely elevated,PCI is associated with higher risk of cardiac death than CABG.