Left atrial volume and function in patients with white-coat hypertension assessed by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

BackgroundWhite-coat hypertension (WCH) is a disease based on the disparity of a patient-s blood pressure measurements between the physician-s office and the patient-s home environment. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the left atrial (LA) volume and functions in WCH.MethodsIn total, this study included 37 WCH (17 women, 20 men, mean age 48.45.7 years) and 30 healthy individuals (18 women, 20 men, mean age 47.97.5 years). All patients underwent real-time three-dimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) with tissue Doppler evaluation to estimate left atrial volumes and mechanical functions.ResultsLA diameters were significantly higher in the patients compared with the controls (37 +/- 2.8 vs. 35 +/- 3.1mm, P=0.017). LA total systolic volume and LA maximal volume were significantly higher in the patients. (41.1 +/- 6.9 vs. 35.5 +/- 3.7ml, P