Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2025
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Left Atrial Function Assessment By Speckle Tracking Echocardiography In Low-Risk Atrial Fibrillation Patients
Kareem Mohammed Helmy1, Reda Biomy1, Mohammed Kamal Salama1
1Department of Cardiology, Kafrelsheikh University,Egypt.
Insights
Speckle tracking echocardiography revealed significantly reduced left atrial function and strain in atrial fibrillation patients. This decline correlated negatively with cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting impaired cardiac mechanics in AF.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) poses significant cardiovascular risks.
- Left atrial function is crucial for cardiac hemodynamics and is often affected in AF.
- Assessing left atrial mechanics can provide insights into AF severity and patient prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare left atrial function using speckle tracking echocardiography in low-risk versus high-risk patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
- To explore the association between left atrial strain and established cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 90 participants (30 low-risk AF, 30 high-risk AF, 30 controls).
- Echocardiographic assessment including speckle tracking of the left atrium.
- Correlation analysis between left atrial strain/ejection fraction and a composite score of cardiovascular risk factors (CHA2DS2-VASc components).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in left atrial ejection fraction and strain were observed across the three groups (p<0.001).
- A significant negative correlation was found between left atrial ejection fraction and strain with the cardiovascular risk score (p<0.001).
- Age was a significant factor influencing left atrial function.
Conclusions:
- Patients with atrial fibrillation exhibit significantly decreased left atrial strain and function.
- Speckle tracking echocardiography provides a detailed assessment of left atrial mechanics.
- Impaired left atrial function in AF is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors.
Objectives:
To compare the left atrial function utilising speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with low-risk and high-risk non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
Method:
The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the cardiology department of Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from January 2021 to January 2022, and comprised low-risk atrial fibrillatin participants in group I, high-risk atrial fibrillatin patients in group II, and healthy controls in group III. After detailed medical history, the subjects underwent 12-lead electrocardigram, and echocardiographic assessment, including two dimensional, M-mode, tissue doppler, and speckle tracking of the left atrium. The association of left atrial strain with Congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes,stroke (doubled), vascular disease sex category (female)score was explored. Data was analysed using SPSS 28.
Results:
Of the 90 subjects, there were 30(33.3%) in each of the 3 groups. The mean age among the groups was significantly different among the groups (p=0.014). Left atrial ejection fraction and left atrial strain had an overall significant difference among the groups(p<0.001). Congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease sex category (female)score was negatively correlated with Left atrial ejection fraction and (p<0.001) and left atrial strain (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
In individuals with atrial fibrillatin, there was a significant decrease in left atrial strain and left atrial function. The use of speckle tracking echocardiography allowed for a more detailed analysis of left atrial mechanics. The correlation of left atrialstrain and left atrial ejection fraction with Congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease sex category (female) score was significantly negative.
