Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the morphological and functional changes of the left atrium of non-valvular atrial fibrillation using echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STI), and to explore the value of echocardiographic parameters in the diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Methods Sixty-two patients with atrial fibrillation of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (32 patients with sinus rhythm during echocardiography as atrial fibrillation sinus rhythm group, AFsinus group; 30 patients with atrial fibrillation rhythm during the examination as atrial fibrillation group, AF group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled sequentially from July to August 2020. Echocardiography was performed to measure left atrial maximum volume (LAVmax), minimum volume (LAVmin), volume index (LAVI), and left atrial emptying fraction (LAEF). 2D-STI was performed to measure left atrial reservoir strain (LASr), left atrial conduct strain (LAScd), and left atrial contraction strain (LASct).
Results LAVmax, LAVmin, LAVI, and LASr showed gradient changes among the three groups (all P < 0.05). LAScd in the disease groups was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the AFsinus group and the AF group. LAVmin: cut-off value 22.3 ml, sensitivity 0.625, specificity 0.889, AUC 0.793; LAScd: cut-off value -19.93%, sensitivity 0.8125, specificity 0.8519, AUC 0.826, LAVmin and LAScd have good diagnostic value for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. LAEF: cut-off value 62.95%, sensitivity 0.741, specificity 0.875, AUC 0.840; LASr: cut-off value 32.73%, sensitivity 0.889, specificity 0.750, AUC 0.880, LAEF and LASr have good exclusion value for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Conclusions Left atrial volume increases progressively with the progression of atrial fibrillation, while the LAEF and LASr decrease progressively. The morphological and functional parameters of the left atrium evaluated by echocardiography, especially LAVmin, LAScd, LAEF, and LASr, are helpful in the diagnosis and elimination of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in sinus rhythm subjects.