1. Prognostic Value of Left Atrial Strain in Aortic Stenosis: A Competing Risk Analysis
- Author
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Eugene S.J. Tan, Xuanyi Jin, Yen Yee Oon, Siew Pang Chan, Lingli Gong, Josephine B. Lunaria, Oi-Wah Liew, Jenny Pek-Ching Chong, Edgar L.W. Tay, Wern Miin Soo, James Wei-Luen Yip, Quek Wei Yong, Evelyn Min Lee, Daniel Poh-Shuan Yeo, Zee Pin Ding, Hak Chiaw Tang, See Hooi Ewe, Calvin W.L. Chin, Siang Chew Chai, Ping Ping Goh, Lee Fong Ling, Hean Yee Ong, A. Mark Richards, and Lieng-Hsi Ling
- Subjects
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine - Abstract
The role of left atrial (LA) strain as an imaging biomarker in aortic stenosis is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic performance of phasic LA strain in relation to clinical and echocardiographic variables and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in asymptomatic and minimally symptomatic patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular ejection fraction50%.LA reservoir strain (LASr), LA conduit strain (LAScd), and LA contractile strain (LASct) were measured using speckle-tracking echocardiography. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, progression to New York Heart Association functional class III or IV, acute coronary syndrome, or syncope. Secondary outcomes 1 and 2 comprised the same end points but excluded acute coronary syndrome and additionally syncope, respectively. The prognostic performance of phasic LA strain cutoffs was evaluated in competing risk analyses, aortic valve replacement being the competing risk.Among 173 patients (mean age, 69 ± 11 years; mean peak transaortic velocity, 4.0 ± 0.8 m/sec), median LASr, LAScd, and LASct were 27% (interquartile range [IQR], 22%-32%), 12% (IQR, 8%-15%), and 16% (IQR, 13%-18%), respectively. Over a median of 2.7 years (IQR, 1.4-4.6 years), the primary outcome and secondary outcomes 1 and 2 occurred in 66 (38%), 62 (36%), and 59 (34%) patients, respectively. LASr20%, LAScd6%, and LASct12% were identified as optimal cutoffs of the primary outcome. In competing risk analyses, progressing from echocardiographic to echocardiographic-clinical and combined models incorporating N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, LA strain parameters outperformed other key echocardiographic variables and significantly predicted clinical outcomes. LASr20% was associated with the primary outcome and secondary outcome 1, LAScd6% with all clinical outcomes, and LASct12% with secondary outcome 2. LAScd6% had the highest specificity (95%) and positive predictive value (82%) for the primary outcome, and competing risk models incorporating LAScd6% had the best discriminative value.In well-compensated patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fractions, LA strain was superior to other echocardiographic indices and incremental to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide for risk stratification. LAScd6%, LASr20%, and LASct12% identified patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes.
- Published
- 2023
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