Study on the 2DSTI technique in the evaluation of left atrial structure and function in elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2DSTI) in the evaluation of left atrial structure and function in elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF).

MethodsSixty elderly NVAF patients and 60 healthy volunteers were divided into the observation group and control group, respectively.According to the size of left atrium, the observation group was divided into the left atrium enlargement group and nonenlargement group.The observation group and control group were examined using dimensional ultrasound and 2DSTI to obtain relevant parametersincluding left atrial maximum anterior posterior diameter(LAD), left atrial maximum volume(LAVmax), left atrial volume index(LAVI), left atrial minimum volume(LAVmin), left atrial emptying fraction(LAEF), ventricular systolic left atrial strain(LASS), strain rate(LASRS), atrial systolic left atrial strain(LASA) and strain rate((LASRA), and the results of left atrial structure and function were compared between two groups.

ResultsThe LAD, LAVmin and LAVI in observation group were higher than those in control group, and the LAEF, LASS, LASRS, LASA and LASRA in observation group were lower than those in control group(P < 0.01).The levels of LAEF, LASS, LASRS, LASA and LASRA in left atrium nonenlargement group were lower than those in control group, and the levels of LAEF, LASS, LASRS, LASA in left atrium enlargement group were lower than those in left atrium nonenlargement group and control group(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), but there was no statistical significance in the LASRA level between the left atrium nonenlargement group and enlargement group(P>0.05).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the LASS and LASA decreased with the increasing of LAVI, and which was negatively correlated(r=-0.702, -0.741, P < 0.05).

ConclusionsThe 2DSTI examination can quantitatively detect the impairment of left atrial function in patients with NVAF.The impairment of left atrial function may still be detected in patients without atrial enlargement, and the left atrial function decreases with the enlargement of left atrium.