TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of Year Long Aerobic Exercise on Left Atrial Size in Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
AU - Kyrouac, Douglas
AU - Talbot, Nicholas
AU - MacNamara, James
AU - Howden, Erin
AU - Hieda, Michinari
AU - Hearon, Christopher
AU - Brazile, Tiffany
AU - Levine, Benjamin
AU - Sarma, Satyam
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2025/6/1
Y1 - 2025/6/1
N2 - Habitual aerobic exercise is associated with left atrial (LA) enlargement which may increase risk of atrial fibrillation. Patients with LVH and increased LV stiffness may be more predisposed to LA remodeling due to higher LA pressures during exercise. We tested the hypothesis 1 year of aerobic exercise training would increase LA size to a greater extent in patients with LVH than controls. Adults with LVH (n = 53) enriched for increased cardiac risk and LV stiffness and control (CON) subjects (n = 58) were randomized to 1 year of high intensity aerobic exercise (ex) or yoga control. LA and LV volumes were measured using 3D echo. Of 111 participants, 83 had complete data available (LVH: 18 exercisers, 10 yoga; CON: 29 exercisers, 26 yoga). Baseline LA volume indices were similar between groups (LVH: 19.8 ± 4.4 mL/m2 vs CON: 18.8 ± 4.1 mL/m2; p = 0.33). After 1 year, the effects of exercise (p = 0.003) and LVH (p = 0.001) were each associated with increased LA volume index. More subjects in the LVH/exercise group (33.3%) increased LA size >5 mL/m2 and LA/LV volume ratios >0.1 compared to the other groups (10% LVH/yoga, 3.4% CON/ex, 3.8% CON/yoga; Chi square p = 0.006). In conclusion, 1 year of aerobic training resulted in higher LA volumes in subjects with LVH and LV stiffness compared to healthy subjects. The increase in LA size was greater than changes in LV size suggesting chronic aerobic training in may preferentially affect LA remodeling in subjects with LVH and LV stiffness.
AB - Habitual aerobic exercise is associated with left atrial (LA) enlargement which may increase risk of atrial fibrillation. Patients with LVH and increased LV stiffness may be more predisposed to LA remodeling due to higher LA pressures during exercise. We tested the hypothesis 1 year of aerobic exercise training would increase LA size to a greater extent in patients with LVH than controls. Adults with LVH (n = 53) enriched for increased cardiac risk and LV stiffness and control (CON) subjects (n = 58) were randomized to 1 year of high intensity aerobic exercise (ex) or yoga control. LA and LV volumes were measured using 3D echo. Of 111 participants, 83 had complete data available (LVH: 18 exercisers, 10 yoga; CON: 29 exercisers, 26 yoga). Baseline LA volume indices were similar between groups (LVH: 19.8 ± 4.4 mL/m2 vs CON: 18.8 ± 4.1 mL/m2; p = 0.33). After 1 year, the effects of exercise (p = 0.003) and LVH (p = 0.001) were each associated with increased LA volume index. More subjects in the LVH/exercise group (33.3%) increased LA size >5 mL/m2 and LA/LV volume ratios >0.1 compared to the other groups (10% LVH/yoga, 3.4% CON/ex, 3.8% CON/yoga; Chi square p = 0.006). In conclusion, 1 year of aerobic training resulted in higher LA volumes in subjects with LVH and LV stiffness compared to healthy subjects. The increase in LA size was greater than changes in LV size suggesting chronic aerobic training in may preferentially affect LA remodeling in subjects with LVH and LV stiffness.
KW - cardiac remodeling
KW - exercise
KW - left atrium
KW - left ventricular hypertrophy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=86000286744&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=86000286744&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2025.02.020
DO - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2025.02.020
M3 - Article
C2 - 39986446
AN - SCOPUS:86000286744
SN - 0002-9149
VL - 244
SP - 3
EP - 8
JO - American Journal of Cardiology
JF - American Journal of Cardiology
ER -