Hypertension accelerates the ‘normal’ aging process with a premature increase in left atrial volume

Abstract

Hypertension (HT) is associated with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and consequent left atrial (LA) dilatation. We investigated changes in LA size and phasic function by decade in patients with HT. Patients with mild or moderate HT (n = 122) were compared with a case controlled normal cohort (blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg). Biplane LA maximum, minimum, and pre ‘a’ wave volumes were measured; LA filling, passive emptying, and active emptying volumes and fractions were calculated. Transmitral inflow and pulsed wave mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity were measured as expressions of LV diastolic function. The HT group had larger LA maximum volumes compared with normal controls for all decades until the 8th decade. Subjects with HT in decade 4 had LA maximum volume similar to that of normal controls from decade 8 (27.8 ± 4.3 mL/m2 vs 25.6 ± 6.1 mL/m2 respectively, P = .22). Active emptying volume and fraction were higher in the HT group across all decades, while there was no difference between the HT and normal groups for passive emptying volume. LV mass and E/E′ ratio were significantly higher across all decades in the HT group. HT alters atrial dynamics significantly, with resultant increased LA volume and active emptying volume consequent to altered LV diastolic function. HT ‘accelerates’ the normal aging process with patients as early as decade 4 having similar LA size to that of normal controls in decade 8. This premature increase in LA volume may result in the future development of atrial fibrillation in HT patients.