Studies have demonstrated dysfunction of the left atrium and right atrium were linked to lower ability to walk, and may be a precursor to heart failure. It may be useful to examine the function of the atria on echocardiography to understand one's risk of developing heart failure in the future.

In this interview, Ravi B. Patel, MD, MSc and Roger S. Blumenthal MD, FACC, with Aaysha Cader, MBBS, MD, MRCP, discuss Associations of Cardiac Mechanics with Exercise Capacity: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.