Structural-functional peculiarities of left atrium remodeling in patients with different body mass, suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease

Aim. To study the left atrium (LA) remodeling in patients with different body mass, suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD).

Materials and methods. Seventy two patients with COLD, who were divided into 3 groups, underwent echocardiography: group 1– patients with normal body mass (n = 31), group 2 – patients with excessive weight (n = 21), group 3 – patients with degree I obesity (n = 20).

Results. Among patients with COLD, belonging to group 3, indexed parameters of minimum (15.43 ± 1.62 ml/м2, р = 0.004) and presystolic (20.52 ± 1.88 ml/м², р = 0.03) volumes of LA increased; these patients also demonstrated growth of maximum upper-lower size of LA with elevation of its linear maximum and minimum sizes, when compared with patients of group 1. Patients with different body mass, suffering from COLD, have similar volumes of passive and active depletion and their corresponding fractions. COLD patients with excessive body mass and obesity showed moderate pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusions. Patients with obesity, suffering from COLD, have significantly elevated indexed parameters of presystolic and minimum LA volumes, which can be considered as early markers of impaired function of LA. Increased minimum LA volume can be one of the factors of gas exchange impairment.