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Effect of age and heart rate on atrial mechanical function assessed by Doppler tissue imaging in healthy individuals
Qing Zhang1, Leo C C Kum, Pui-Wai Lee
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Insights
Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) can assess atrial mechanical function. Peak atrial contraction velocity (V(A)) is highest in the right atrium, lower in the left atrium, and lowest in the interatrial septum.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) shows potential for assessing atrial mechanical function in cardiac disease.
- Limited data exists on normal atrial function values using DTI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normal values for atrial mechanical function using DTI in healthy individuals.
- To assess the feasibility of DTI for evaluating atrial function.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography with color-coded DTI was performed on 131 healthy subjects.
- Peak atrial contraction velocity (V(A)) and mechanical event timing were measured offline.
- Measurements were taken at the left atrial (LA) free wall, right atrial (RA) free wall, and interatrial septum.
Main Results:
- V(A) was significantly higher in the RA (9.0 cm/s) compared to the LA (7.5 cm/s) and interatrial septum (5.6 cm/s).
- Older age (≥60 years) and higher heart rate (≥60/min) were associated with augmented V(A) in both atria.
- Interatrial delay was measured at 24 ms; sex did not influence V(A) or timing.
Conclusions:
- DTI is a feasible method for assessing atrial mechanical function in healthy individuals.
- Normal values indicate V(A) is highest in the RA, followed by the LA, and lowest at the interatrial septum.
- Older age and faster heart rates may increase V(A) in atrial walls.
Background:
The potential usefulness of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) to assess atrial mechanical function in cardiac disease has been demonstrated. However, there are few reports on normal values of atrial function by DTI analysis.
Methods:
Echocardiography with color-coded DTI was performed in 131 healthy control subjects. The peak atrial contraction velocity (V(A)) and the timing of mechanical events were assessed offline at the left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) free wall and interatrial septum.
Results:
V(A) was higher in the RA (9.0 +/- 2.6 cm/s) than the LA (7.5 +/- 2.4 cm/s, P < .001), and both sites were higher than the interatrial septum (5.6 +/- 1.3 cm/s, both P < .001). The interatrial delay was 24 +/- 21 milliseconds. V(A) at the LA was higher in the participants aged 60 years or older than those who were younger than 60 years (8.1 +/- 2.7 vs 6.7 +/- 1.4 cm/s, P < .001), as was the velocity at the RA (9.6 +/- 2.8 vs 8.0 +/- 2.1 cm/s, P < .01). V(A) at the LA was higher in the participants with heart rate of 60/min or higher than those with lower heart rate (7.9 +/- 2.5 vs 6.8 +/- 1.8 cm/s, P < .05). Sex difference had no effect on V(A) and timings of atrial events.
Conclusions:
Assessment of atrial mechanical function by DTI is feasible in healthy individuals. The V(A) is the highest at the RA, followed by LA, and the lowest at the interatrial septum. Older age and faster heart rate seems to augment V(A) in the atrial walls.
