Is the atrial fibrillation related to left atrial sizes?

Background. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia and left atrial size is an important factor for its development. In the presence of atrial fibrillation, an increase in left atrial size is associated with increased risk of stroke, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Purpose: to study the atrial fibrillation relation to left atrial size in different diseases. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the cardiac diseases and cardiac surgery center (Misan, Iraq) for a period of one year, from February 2023 till February 2024, and involved 50 cases of atrial fibrillation. Results. The mean age of the study sample was 53.6 ± 19.5 years, 58 % are above the age of 50 years and of male gender, 21 patients (42 %) were females. Left atrial size was normal in 15 patients (30 %) and enlarged in 35 (70 %). Mild enlargement was found in 17 patients (34 %), moderate in 10 (20 %) and severe in 8 (16 %). Conclusions. Atrial fibrillation was prevalent among individuals aged over 40 years, left atrial enlargement was observed in patients with ischemic heart disease, hypertension, cardiomyopathy and pulmonary hypertension. Conversely, patients with thyrotoxicosis, dyslipidemia and lone atrial fibrillation did not exhibit it. Left atrial enlargement positively corelated with age and was more common with advanced age.