ABSTRACT
Background: Assessment of left atrial (LA) function and its variability among patients with sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been the subject of research recently. Aim: This research investigated whether LA function parameters by means of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were comparable in atrial fibrillation patients and patients with normal sinus rhythm. Subjects and methods: This observational study was done in Benha University Hospital, from March 2022 to January 2023, included 200 patients to study difference in LA parameters between the patients with sinus rhythm and AF patients. All subjects underwent history taking, clinical examination, Electrocardiogram and Echocardiography with TDI values. Results: We included (I)100 patients with sinus rhythm and (II)100 atrial fibrillation patients in the study (mean age 57.7 ±13.6 years, mean body mass index 25.21 ±4.12 kg/m2, 44% males). Patients of group II had significantly higher LA volumes and LA Volume index (P values=.0001 each), patients of group I had higher LA emptying fraction (LAEF) (P value =.006). LA ∑ Strain and Strain rate were lower among patients of group II (P value=.0001 each). LAEF was positively correlated with LA ∑ strain rate (r =0.226) (P value .001). LA volume index was negatively correlated with LA ∑ strain and strain rate (r =-0.35, -0.207), (P values .0001, .003) respectively.
Conclusion: LA function parameters were significantly lower among patients with AF. LAEF was positively correlated with LA ∑ strain rate. LA volume index was negatively correlated with LA ∑ strain and strain rate.