Association of left atrial dilation with the thickening of the intima-media complex of the common carotid artery and risk factors for cerebrovascular complications in patients with comorbidities

Objective. To assess the relationship between the left atrial dilation and the thickening of the intima-media complex of the common carotid artery and the risk factors for cerebrovascular complications in patients with comorbidities. Material and methods. The study included 254 patients (150 males and 104 females) with comorbidities. Participants were assessed for risk factors for cerebrovascular complications, the thickness of the intima-media complex of the common carotid artery, and the size of the left atrium, considering gender. Results. In males and females with comorbidities, the most common risk factors for cerebrovascular complications were overweight (33.3% and 25.0%), grade I obesity (32.0% and 37.5%), hypertension (76.0% and 69.2%), tachycardia (52.6% and 51.9%), anemia (46.6% and 33.6%), hypercholesterolemia (36.0% and 36.5%), hypertriglyceridemia (34.6% and 20.1%), dyslipidemia (50.6% and 59.6%), elevated C-reactive protein (32.0% and 34.6%), chronic renal failure (34.6% and 28.8%), increased intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (69.3% and 62.5%). The linear dimension (2.37±0.31 cm) and indexed volume of the left atrium (45±0.06 mL/m²) in males were significantly higher than in females (2.26±0.30 cm/43±0.05 mL/m²). Correlations were established between the linear size of the left atrium and body mass index (r=0.362), levels of systolic (r=0.159) and diastolic (r=0.150) blood pressure, total cholesterol levels (r=0.204), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.221), triglycerides (r=0.746), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.721), C-reactive protein (r=0.595) and thickness of the intima-media complex of the common carotid artery (r=0.143). A significant positive relationship was found between the thickness of the intima-media complex of the common carotid artery and the indexed volume of the left atrium (r=0.197) and a negative relationship between the glomerular filtration rate and the left atrial linear size (r=–0.167). Conclusion. A high prevalence of risk factors for cerebrovascular complications has been identified in patients with comorbidities. The study’s results suggest that dilation of the left atrium plays a significant role in developing cerebrovascular complications.