Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
08:10
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation: Prevalence and functional
Jenelle K Dziano1, Jonathan P Ariyaratnam1, Jackson Howie1
1Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Adelaide University, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Heart Rhythm
|May 16, 2026
Summary
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction affects nearly 15% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and preserved left ventricular function. This RV dysfunction is linked to reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), suggesting RV function as a potential treatment target.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Physiology
- Atrial Fibrillation Research
Background:
- Left ventricular (LV) function is crucial in managing atrial fibrillation (AF).
- The role and impact of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in AF patients remain unclear.
- Understanding RV function is vital for comprehensive AF management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of RV dysfunction in symptomatic AF patients with preserved LV function.
- To assess the association between RV dysfunction and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).
- To evaluate the relationship between RV dysfunction and AF symptom burden.
Main Methods:
- Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were performed on 241 symptomatic AF patients.
- RV dysfunction was defined by specific echocardiographic parameters (TAPSE ≤1.7cm and/or s' ≤9.5cm/s).
- Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak).
Main Results:
- RV dysfunction was identified in 14.5% of patients with preserved LV systolic function.
- Patients with RV dysfunction exhibited significantly lower CRF (VO2peak) compared to those without.
- No association was found between RV dysfunction and AF symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- RV dysfunction is prevalent in symptomatic AF patients, even with normal LV function.
- Reduced RV function is independently associated with diminished cardiorespiratory fitness.
- Targeting RV dysfunction may offer a new therapeutic strategy for symptomatic AF.
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