Reference value of left and right atrial size and phasic function by SSFP CMR at 3.0 T in healthy Chinese adults

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 3196 - 11
• Main Authors: Li, Weihao, Wan, Ke, Han, Yuchi, Liu, Hong, Cheng, Wei, Sun, Jiayu, Luo, Yong, Yang, Dan, Chung, Yiu-Cho, Chen, Yucheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 09.06.2017; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 59/57; 631/443/1338; 692/4019; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atrium; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Female; Gender differences; Health risks; Heart Atria - diagnostic imaging; Heart Atria - physiopathology; Heart diseases; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Organ Size - physiology; Reference Values; Risk factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sex differences; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03377-6

The size and function of the left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) are related closely with the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. However, their normal reference values, as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), are not well established in Chinese populations. Healthy Chinese subjects (n = 135, 66 males, age 23–83 years) without cardiovascular risk factors were recruited. We imaged the LA and RA of all subjects using short axis and long axis slices by steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences using a 3.0T scanner. The size and functional parameters were measured. Age and gender differences in LA were further explored. The normal reference values of atrial dimensions, volumes, and empty fractions (EFs) were provided by short axis (SAX) and area-length methods. Volumes and EFs derived by the area-length method showed correlated well with those derived by the by SAX method, but significantly underestimated the volumes (all P < 0.001) and overestimated the LA EFs (all P < 0.001). Atrial dimensions and volumes were generally larger in males. Conduit EFs and total EFs showed gender differences. Most atrial parameters correlated with age. In general, our results showed that gender and age have considerable impact on LA and RA size and function.