Left atrial function has stronger prognostic impact than left atrial size

What is it about?

Left atrial maximum volume is an established biomarker of left ventricular filling dysfunction and a predictor of cardiovascular outcome. Recent data suggest that measures of left atrial function, such as left atrial emptying fraction (LAEF), may be more robust prognostic predictors than left atrial volumes. In our community-based sample, LAEF was significantly associated with incident cardiovascular events and provided prognostic information incremental to clinical data, including NTproBNP levels, and conventional echocardiographic data. This predictive ability of LAEF was stronger compared with LA maximum and minimum volumes.

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