Effect of Different Alcohol Consumption Levels on the Left Atrial Size: a Cross-sectional Study in Rural China

Objective: Previous studies have investigated the relationships between alcohol and ventricular structure, but few studies have evaluated the relation between alcohol consumption and the atrium size. This study aims to test the association between alcohol consumption and left atrium (LA) size in a general population.
Methods: A population-based sample of 10 211 subjects aged ≥ 35 years and free from hypertension at baseline were followed from January 2012 to August 2013. Left atrial enlargement (LAE) was defined as the ratio of LA diameter to body surface area exceeding 2.4 cm/m2 in both genders. Independent factors for LAE were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results：The study included 10 211 participants (4 751 men and 5 460 women). Left atrium diameter / body surface area (LAD/BSA) was higher in the moderate and heavy alcohol consumption groups compared with the non-drinker group (non-drinker, 20.5±0.03 cm/m2; moderate, 20.8±0.09 cm/m2; and heavy, 20.6±0.06 cm/m2; P<0.001). Both groups of moderate and heavy drinker had a higher incidence of LAE than the non-drinker group (6.9% of non-drinkers, 9.9% of moderate drinkers and 8.4% of heavy drinkers, P<0.001).After adjusting for related risk factors, multiple logistic regression analyses showed the moderate drinkers had an approximately 1.4-fold higher risk of LAE(OR: 1.387,95%CI,1.056-1.822, P = 0.019) compared with the non-drinkers, and the heavy drinkers had an approximately 1.2-fold higher risk of LAE(OR: 1.229,95%CI, 1.002-1.508, P = 0.047) compared with the non-drinkers.
Conclusion: Both heavy and moderate drinkers had an increased Odds for LAE compared with participants with no alcohol consumption in the general population.