Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Early life and adulthood risk factors for middle age P -wave prolongation and left atrial enlargement
- Prospective cohort study
- multicentre
Authors' conclusion
Excess BMI from childhood through adulthood is a key determinant of atrial remodelling in middle age.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, risk factors assessed 1980–2001 (ages 6–24 years), echocardiography and ECG in 2011
- Exposure
- Cumulative early life CV risk factors (ages 6-24 years) and P-wave duration and left atrial (LA) size in middle age
- Outcome
- P-wave duration, LA diameter and LA volume
- Follow-up
- Middle age (2011)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of early life BMI burden (per SD increase) with P-wave and LA measures
Longer P-wave duration per SD increase in early life body mass index (BMI) burden
0.120 SD; 1.85 ms
Larger LA diameter per SD increase in early life BMI burden
0.264 SD; 0.11 cm
Greater LA volume per SD increase in early life BMI burden
0.235 SD; 3.31 mL
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Other determinants
- Higher physical activity in middle age associated with increased LA volume
- 0.116 SD (1.64 mL)
- Male sex associated with all studied P-wave and LA parameters
- Older age associated with larger LA diameter
- Persistent or adult-onset high BMI more likely to have larger LA
Original publication
Early life and adulthood risk factors for middle age P -wave prolongation and left atrial enlargement. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 24 July 2026. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag366
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it