Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Atrial Function in Aging Adults

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death in Brazil, with aging being a major risk factor. Research indicates that there is a higher occurrence of cardiovascular disease as individuals age, impacting ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation. Atrial myopathy, associated with aging, has received considerable attention, with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation under investigation as contributing factors. Left atrial function has been extensively studied, focusing on its role in cardiac performance. Modern echocardiographic techniques, such as speckle tracking, provide a detailed assessment of atrial function, offering advantages over traditional methods of assessing maximum atrial volume. Studies reveal the important role of atrial strain in predicting cardiovascular events. The aging process brings a progressive reduction in atrial functions, and new measures are being developed to detect atrial dysfunction early, with a potential impact on future guidelines and the definition of normal age-related standards.