Poor Cardiac Structure Tied to Higher Long-term Risks

Study finds increased heart chamber size and weight linked to higher chances of mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and other conditions later in life.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:00am

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A new study from researchers at Boston University's Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has found that higher measurements of the left atrial end-systolic dimension (LASD) and left ventricular mass (LVM) during midlife are associated with a greater risk of adverse health outcomes like mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease later in life. The study, which analyzed data from the long-running Framingham Heart Study, emphasizes the importance of maintaining optimal heart health through lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking.

Why it matters

As the number of people with cardiovascular disease and related conditions continues to rise, this research underscores the need for individuals to prioritize heart-healthy habits over the course of their lifetime in order to mitigate their risk of developing serious medical problems down the line.

The details

The study examined data from 8,192 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, with an average age of 48 years old. Participants underwent regular echocardiograms to measure their LASD and LVM, as well as providing information on various lifestyle factors and health conditions. The researchers were able to follow the participants for approximately 30 years, a much longer timeframe than most previous studies on this topic. Their findings showed that higher LASD and LVM values during midlife were associated with significantly increased risks of mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease later in life.

  • The study analyzed data from participants who attended routine echocardiography visits as part of the Framingham Heart Study.
  • Participants were followed for approximately 30 years.

The players

Vanessa Xanthakis

An associate professor of medicine and an investigator of the Framingham Heart Study, who served as the corresponding author of the study.

Framingham Heart Study

One of the longest-running epidemiological studies in the world, providing the rich dataset that enabled the researchers to examine long-term health outcomes.

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What they’re saying

“It is important to make appropriate lifestyle changes and follow heart-healthy habits, such as eating healthy, exercise regularly, maintaining a healthy body mass index, limiting alcohol intake, and avoid smoking; these choices will contribute to maintaining optimal values of LVM and LASD, which subsequently may lower the risk of CVD and other adverse outcomes.”

— Vanessa Xanthakis, Associate Professor of Medicine and Investigator, Framingham Heart Study

What’s next

The researchers hope that these findings will empower people to commit to healthier lifestyles in order to maintain optimal heart health and reduce their long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and related conditions.

The takeaway

This study highlights the critical importance of maintaining healthy cardiac structure and function throughout one's lifetime, as even subtle changes in measures like left atrial size and left ventricular mass can have significant implications for an individual's long-term health and risk of developing serious medical problems down the line.