Adverse cardiovascular outcome predicted by left atrial strain in acute decompensated heart failure

Abstract

Abstract Background A significant proportion of patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, resulting in a major social and economic burden. Thus, risk stratification and identification of targets of therapy is of basic importance. Non-invasive imaging modality such as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) represents a cornerstone tool to approach this clinical scenario for early recognition of high-risk patients. Purpose To define whether left atrial (LA) dynamics, evaluated by means of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), may represent a predictor of cardiac events and early re-hospitalization in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) for ADHF, in comparison with other non-invasive established prognostic index in heart failure (HF) such as NT-proBNP, B-lines at lung ultrasonography (LUS) and right ventricular (RV) to Pulmonary Circulation (PC) uncoupling evaluated through Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE)/Pulmonary Arterial Systolic Pressure (PASP) ratio. Methods Seventy patients (mean age 75.6±11 years, 57% males) presenting with ADHF were prospectively enrolled within 24–48 hours from admission. In the acute phase and at pre-discharge the following variables have been collected: NT-proBNP, B-lines, TAPSE/PASP ratio, Left Atrial Volume indexed (LAVi) and global-peak atrial longitudinal strain (G-PALS). Results During a median follow-up of nine months we observed 18 events consisting of 7 deaths, 8 re-hospitalizations for ADHF, 1 re-hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, 1 stroke and 1 mitral valve replacement. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis identified LAVi and GPALS at discharge, along with NT-proBNP, B-lines and TAPSE/PASP ratio, as independent predictors of major adverse CV events (LAVi: p=0.04; GPALS: p=0.05; NT-proBNP: p<0.001; B-lines: p=0.03; TAPSE/PASP: p<0.001) (Table 1). Conclusions Short-term re-hospitalization in ADHF is crucial and the identification of a higher risk through sensitive and potentially new hemodynamic phenotypes is of relevance. Our findings, although preliminary, may suggest a primary role of LA dynamics in this context. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None