Effect of Obesity on Left Atrial Strain in Persons Aged 35–55 Years (The Asklepios Study)

Abstract Obesity increases the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Left atrial (LA) dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a mediator of cardiovascular disease. Early effects of obesity on LA function have not been examined in large population samples. We quantified LA strain and strain rate (SR) via speckle tracking echocardiography among 1,531 middle-aged community-based participants enrolled in the Asklepios study. We compared LA function between individuals with body mass index (BMI) 2 (n=779), 25–29.9 kg/m 2 (n=618) and ≥30 kg/m 2 (n=134). Significant differences in reservoir longitudinal LA strain (BMI 2 =35.3%, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =33.1%, BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =30.9%; P 2 =151; BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =141; BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =135 %/s; P 2 =1.6, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =1.4; BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =1.4; P 2 =21.6%, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =18.9%, BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =16.7%; P 2 =-189, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =166 and BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =150 %/sec; P 2 =40.5, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =36.5, BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =36%, P 2 =19.4%, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 =20.5% and BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 =21.5%; P .