Potential Usefulness and Clinical Relevance of Adding Left Atrial Strain to Left Atrial Volume Index in the Detection of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the potential usefulness and clinical relevance of adding left atrial (LA) strain to left atrial volume index (LAVI) in the detection of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Background: Recent studies have suggested that LA strain could be of use in the evaluation of LVDD. However, the potential utility and clinical significance of adding LA strain to LAVI in the detection of LVDD remains uncertain.

Methods: Using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, we analyzed a population of 517 patients in sinus rhythm at risk for LVDD such as those with arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or history of coronary artery disease and preserved LVEF.

Results: In patients with LV diastolic alterations and estimated elevated LV filling pressures, the rate of abnormal LA strain was significantly higher than an abnormal LAVI (62.4% vs. 33.6%, p < 0.01). In line with this, in patients with normal LAVI, high rates of LV diastolic alterations and abnormal LA strain were present (rates 80% and 29.4%, respectively). In agreement with these findings, adding LA strain to LAVI in the current evaluation of LVDD increased significantly the rate of detection of LVDD (relative and absolute increase 73.3% and 9.9%; rate of detection of LVDD: from 13.5% to 23.4%; p < 0.01). Regarding the clinical relevance of these findings, an abnormal LA strain (i.e., <23%) was significantly associated with worse New York Heart Association functional class, even when LAVI was normal. Moreover, in a retrospective post hoc analysis an abnormal LA strain had a significant association with the risk of heart failure hospitalization at 2 years (odds ratio: 6.6 [95% confidence interval: 2.6 to 16.6]) even adjusting this analysis for age and sex and in patients with normal LAVI.

Conclusions: The findings from this study provide important insights regarding the potential usefulness and clinical relevance of adding LA strain to LAVI in the detection of LVDD in patients with preserved LVEF.

Keywords: echocardiography; left atrial; speckle-tracking; strain.