[Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial volume in asymptomatic ambulatory patients with metabolic syndrome and/or arterial hypertension - is it parameter worth into considerate?].

Introduction: Early identification of high-risk patients, including those with arterial hypertension (AH) andlor metabolic syndrome (MS), have a positive effect on the treatment and the cost. Left atrial volume is a well-known, easy to examine prognostic factor in cardiovascular diseases. Impaired function and enlargement of the left atrium could be present in even when asymptomatic patients with AH, but in subjects with MS has not been well documented.