Evaluation of the association between stroke/transient ischemic attack and atrial electromechanical delay in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the history of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and inter- and intra-atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PAF were included in this retrospective study. Patients who had a history of stroke or TIA were defined as the symptomatic group, whereas those who did not have such a history were defined as the asymptomatic group. On the basis of the transthoracic echocardiographic records, atrial electromechanical coupling (time interval from the onset of the P wave on the surface electrocardiogram to the beginning of the A’ wave interval with tissue Doppler echocardiography) and intra- and interatrial EMD were measured. RESULTS: In this study, 160 patients were included, 52 of whom were symptomatic. While the intra-left atrial EMD was 68.2±6.1 ms in the symptomatic group, it was found to be 50.8±6.5 ms in the asymptomatic group (p<0.001). Interatrial EMD was 91.3±5.0 ms in the symptomatic group, whereas it was 71.5±7.0 ms in the asymptomatic group (p<0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, intra-left atrial [odds ratio (OR): 1.417, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.193–1.684, p<0.001] and interatrial EMDs (OR:1.398, 95% CI: 1.177–1.661, p<0.001) were found to be independently associated with the presence of stroke/TIA. CONCLUSION: Prolonged inter- and intra-left atrial EMDs in patients with PAF is associated with stroke/TIA. Evaluating this parameter in addition to the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score in patients with PAF may be helpful in identifying patients who are at a high risk of stroke/TIA. (Anatol J Cardiol 2016; 16: 572-8)