Abstract
BackgroundEven in patients with well-controlled arterial hypertension (AH) and without significant comorbidities left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) strain abnormalities may sometimes be found in speckle-tracking echocardiography. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between LA strain and LV diastolic and systolic function in a group of patients with treated, well-controlled AH.Methods LA contractile, conduit, and reservoir function, together with echocardiographic signs of LV diastolic function and LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS), were assessed in 101 patients with treated, well-controlled AH who met the standard criteria of normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and normal LV diastolic function.ResultA relevant percentage of study participants presented lower than reference LV and LA strain values. Moreover, there were statistically significant differences in LA longitudinal strain (LAS) values (LAS during reservoir phase—LASr (p<0.001) and LAS during conduit phase—LAScd (p = 0.008)) between patients with high and lower LV GLS, confirmed by significant correlations between LASr, LAScd, and GLS. In the correlations analysis between LAS values and LV diastolic function parameters, statistical significance was obtained for the following: LASct (contraction) vs. e’avg, LASct vs. E/A, LASct vs. A, LAScd vs. e’avg, LAScd vs. E/A, and LAScd vs. A. Conclusions LV and LA strain abnormalities occurred within a significant percentage of patients with treated, well-controlledAH. Impaired LA strain is associated with lower LV strain and reduced LV diastolic function parameters, reflecting both the passive and active properties of the LA.
Left atrial longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography correlates well with left ventricular filling pressures in patients with heart failure
