Determinants of left atrioventricular coupling index: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background Recent studies have described a novel left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI), which had a better prognostic value than individual left atrial (LA) or left ventricular (LV) parameters measured separately to predict cardiovascular events. Purpose To identify the determinants of the LACI and its 10-year annual change (ΔLACI), measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and to better understand the parameters governing this left atrioventricular coupling. Methods In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), 2,112 study participants, free of cardiovascular disease at baseline, had LACI assessed by CMR imaging at baseline (LACIBaseline, 2000–2002) and 10 years later (2010–2012). The LACI was defined as the ratio of LA to LV end-diastolic volumes. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify independent determinants of LACIBaseline or ΔLACI. Results In the 2,112 participants (58.8±9.1 years, 46.6% male), after adjustment for all covariates, age was independently associated with both LACIBaseline (R2=0.10, slope=0.16) and ΔLACI (R2=0.15, slope=0.008, both p Conclusions Age, sex, ethnicity, diabetes, and BMI were independent determinants of LACI. LACI was independently associated with LV myocardial fibrosis markers and NT-proBNP levels. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.