Higher left atrial end-systolic dimension (LASD), a measure of the size of the heart’s left upper chamber, and greater left ventricular mass (LVM), which reflects the weight of the heart’s left ventricular muscle, are established markers of cardiovascular damage and are known to predict a higher short-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, less is known about their associations with long-term health outcomes over several decades.
A new study by researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine found that elevated LASD and LVM values during midlife are associated with a greater long-term risk of adverse health outcomes, including mortality, CVD, dementia, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy cardiac structure throughout adulthood.
“It is important to make appropriate lifestyle changes and follow heart-healthy habits, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body mass index, limiting alcohol intake, and avoiding smoking; these choices may help maintain optimal LVM and LASD values and subsequently lower the risk of CVD and other adverse outcomes,” said Vanessa Xanthakis, associate professor of medicine and investigator with the Framingham Heart Study.
Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, one of the world’s longest-running epidemiological studies, researchers analyzed 8,192 participants (mean age 48 ± 13 years; 54% women) who underwent routine echocardiography assessments during study visits. Participants also provided information on lifestyle factors, body measurements, blood pressure, use of antihypertensive medications, cholesterol ratios, diabetes status, fasting blood glucose, and other cardiovascular risk factors using standardized protocols.
According to the researchers, most previous studies examining echocardiographic measurements and disease risk have been limited to relatively short follow-up periods. In contrast, the extensive longitudinal data available through the Framingham Heart Study allowed investigators to follow participants for approximately 30 years.
“The number of people living with CVD and related comorbidities continues to rise, so we hope our findings will encourage individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles that may reduce disease risk and contribute to healthier aging at the population level,” added Xanthakis.
More information: Stephanie Pan et al, Associations of Left Atrial Dimension and Ventricular Mass With Long-Term Health Outcomes: Framingham Heart Study, Journal of the American College of Cardiology. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102643
Journal information: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Provided by Boston University School of Medicine
