Echocardiographic evaluation from a different perspective in asthmatic patients

It is known that there is a complex interaction between asthma and cardiovascular physiology. Some investigations on echocardiography and electrocardiography (ECG) in asthmatic patients have revealed many findings such as pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and arrhythmia. In this study, we aimed to perform tissue Doppler imaging (TDIE) and conventional echocardiographic (CEI) assessment with many indexes of arrhythmia on electrocardiography (ECG) in asthmatic patients.

A total of 89 patients, 63 females (70.8%) and 26 males (29.2%), were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups, and then each group was separated in two groups as mild-moderate and severe asthma.

There was no difference among groups with respect to age, sex and anthropometric data. There was no difference between the groups with respect to indexes of arrhythmia on ECG (p> 0.05). Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), tricuspid annular alane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and both ventricular diastolic velocities on CEI were similar between the groups, except for left ventricular A wave velocity which was higher in severe asthmatic patients (p<0.05). Investigation of time intervals of both ventricular diastolic filling velocities (e' and a') at the mitral lateral, septal and tricuspid lateral annulus revealed significant difference at Pa'm-3 and Pa's-3 intervals based on TDEI (p<0.05). Only maximal volume of the LA was higher in severe asthmatic patients (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between LA-VpreA and LA-Vmin (p<0.05).

Based on these results, it can be suggested that LA mechanical functions and intra-atrial LA electromechanical durations were impaired in severe asthmatic patients.