Prognostic role of left atrial strain and its combination index with transmitral E-wave velocity in patients with atrial fibrillation

Left atrial (LA) strain can reflect LA remodeling and is reduced in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with prior stroke. This study sought to examine the ability of LA strain in predicting subsequent stroke event in AF and also evaluated whether E/LA strain could predict cardiovascular (CV) events in these patients. In 190 persistent AF patients, we performed comprehensive echocardiography with assessment of LA strain. There were 69 CV events including 19 CV death, 32 hospitalizations for heart failure, 3 myocardial infarctions, and 15 strokes during an average follow-up of 29 months. Multivariate analysis showed old age, chronic heart failure, increased left ventricular (LV) mass index, and increased E/LA strain were associated with CV events and decreased LA strain was associated with subsequent stroke event. The addition of E/LA strain and LA strain to a model containing CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score and LV function significantly improved the values in predicting CV events and subsequent stroke event, respectively. In conclusion, E/LA strain and LA strain were respectively useful in predicting CV events and subsequent stroke event in AF. E/LA strain and LA strain could provide incremental values for CV outcome and subsequent stroke outcome prediction over conventional clinical and echocardiographic parameters in AF, respectively.