Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Atrial Volume Index in Elderly Patients with Left Ventricle Anterior Myocardial Infarction

INTRODUCTION: Enlarged left atrium predicts outcomes in patients with heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke. Left atrial volume especially when corrected for body size, is a more accurate representation of true LA size. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study left atrial volume index in elderly patients with left ventricle anterior infarction and correlate LAVi with left ventricle ejection fraction and transmitral Doppler flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Control group consisted of 25 healthy elderly subjects Study group consisted of age and sex matched patients with LV anterior infarction with history of characteristic ischaemic chest pain. Patients with valve lesions, large shunts and rythum disturbances were excluded. On transthoracic echocardiography biplane method of disks was used to calculate LA volume. LAVi was calculated by dividing LA volume by body surface area of subjects. OBSERVATION AND RESULTS: LAVi was significantly raised in elderly patients who suffered from AMI (P<0.005). We also found significant negative correlation of LAVi with LVEF, E wave peak velocity and deacceleration time. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced left venticular systolic and diastolic dysfunction had a significantly larger LAVi than healthy subjects. LAVi is useful for risk stratification and for guiding therapy in such patients.