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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of this work was to study the relationship between echocardiographic parameters and the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Background Strain and strain rate imaging using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography is a new modality that has emerged recently to estimate myocardial function accurately. Left atrial (LA) strain analysis is a new tool that can be used to evaluate LA function. LA strain may correlate with the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Patients and methods We prospectively identified 30 patients with AF, and 20 normal individuals served as controls. All 50 participants underwent standard two-dimensional Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results The LA diameter was greater in patients with AF when compared with the control group (5.03 ± 0.85 vs. 3.30 ± 0.57, P < 0.001). The peak LA longitudinal strain in both the apical four-chamber (AP4) and the apical two-chamber (AP2) views was reduced in patients with AF when compared with controls (12.42 ± 7.17 vs. 49.89 ± 8.45 in the AP4 view and 11.85 ± 7.32 vs. 49.17 ± 7.97 in AP2, P < 0.001), and it was negatively correlated with the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score, but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusion LA strain, which is a marker of dynamic LA function, is significantly reduced in AF patients. The correlation between the peak LA strain and the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was negative, but it did not reach statistical significance.

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