Value of Left Atrial Strain in Predicting Recurrence after Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

This study tested the relationship between left atrial (LA) function parameters and the results of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Consecutive patients undergoing PVI for the first time between 2019 and 2021 were included. Patients underwent radiofrequency ablation using contact force catheters and an electroanatomical system. Follow-up consisted of ambulatory visits/televisits and 7-day Holter monitoring (at 6 and 12 months after ablation). On the day of ablation, all patients underwent transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography with LA strain analysis. The primary endpoint was atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence during the follow-up period. Of 221 patients, 22 did not meet the echocardiographic quality criteria, leaving 199 patients. The median follow-up period was 12 months, and 12 patients were lost to follow-up. Recurrences were observed in 67 patients (35.8%) after a mean of 1.06 procedures per patient. The patients were divided into a sinus rhythm (SR, n = 109) group and an AF (n = 90) group based on their cardiac rhythm at the time of echocardiography. In the SR group, univariable analysis showed that LA reservoir strain, LA appendage emptying velocity (LAAV), and LA volume index predicted AF recurrence, with only LAAV being significant in the multivariable analysis. In AF patients, univariable analysis revealed no LA strain parameters predicting AF recurrence.