Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation: Diastolic Function Differences Depending on Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction

Background: Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are prevalent cardiovascular diseases, and their association is common. Diastolic dysfunction may be present in patients with AF and all types of HF, leading to elevated intracardiac pressures. The objective of this study was to analyze diastolic dysfunction in patients with HF and AF depending on left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF). Material and methods: This prospective study included 324 patients with chronic HF and AF (paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent) hospitalized between January 2018 and March 2021. The inclusion criteria were age older than 18 years, diagnosis of chronic HF and AF, and available echocardiographic data. The exclusion criteria were a suboptimal echocardiographic view, other cardiac rhythms than AF, congenital heart disease, or coronavirus 2 infection. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to LVEF: subgroup 1 included 203 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and AF (62.65%), subgroup 2 included 42 patients with HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and AF (12.96%), and subgroup 3 included 79 patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and AF (24.38%). We performed 2D transthoracic echocardiography in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. Results: The E/e' ratio (p = 0.0352, OR 1.9) and left atrial volume index (56.4 mL/m² vs. 53.6 mL/m²) were higher in patients with HFrEF than in those with HFpEF. Conclusions: Patients with HFrEF and AF had more severe diastolic dysfunction and higher left ventricular filling pressures than those with HFpEF and AF.