Is the presence of interatrial septal hypertrophy a marker for XXXX in the elderly?

@entity1 @entity943 @entity9009 @entity955
@entity9009 ( @entity9009 ) appears to increase with heart weight, body surface area, and the presence of vacuolated fat cells within the @entity955 . The increased thickness of the @entity955 is an infrequently observed but readily recognized entity by echocardiography. Several reports have suggested that some @entity943 , particularly those of atrial origin, may be a consequence of this fatty deposition. However, to date, no study has correlated the presence of @entity955 with @entity9009 in the elderly. This is of particular importance as this rhythm is so prevalent in this population. Accordingly, a retrospective analysis was conducted in a group of 40 @entity1 , age 65 and older, to measure @entity9009 using transthoracic echocardiography. Furthermore, measurements of right and left atrial size, body surface area, left ventricular wall thickness, and left ventricular ejection fraction were recorded. Group I consisted of 20 @entity1 with known @entity955 (eight males and 12 females; mean age 78+/-8 years) and group II consisted of 20 @entity1 in normal sinus rhythm (three males and 17 females; mean age 74+/-6 years). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of body surface area (1.83 vs. 1.79 m2; p<0.78); left ventricular wall thickness (1.16 vs. 1.12 cm; p<0.58); and left ventricular ejection fraction (48% vs. 55%; p<0.17). Group I had somewhat larger right atrial (4.2 vs. 3.4 cm; p<0.001) and left atrial (4.7 vs. 4.1 cm; p<0.02) dimensions than group II. Furthermore, @entity9009 was found to be the most significant variable that differentiated @entity1 with @entity955 from @entity1 with normal sinus rhythm (1.39 vs. 0.85 cm; p<0.0001). Even after adjusting for all the covariables, @entity9009 remained statistically significant (p<0.0001). The findings of this pilot study show a strong correlation between @entity9009 and @entity955 . Although the stimulus for the increased thickness of the @entity955 remains elusive, @entity9009 may identify a structural cause for @entity955 in elderly @entity1 that is easily identified by transthoracic echocardiography.
