Ventricular Early Diastolic Strain Rate Research Articles

Evaluating left atrial strain and left ventricular diastolic strain rate as markers for diastolic dysfunction in patients with mitral annular calcification

BackgroundMitral annular calcification (MAC) poses many challenges to the evaluation of diastolic function using standard echocardiography. Left atrial (LA) strain and left ventricular early diastolic strain rate (DSr) measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) are emerging techniques in the noninvasive evaluation of diastolic function. We aim to evaluate the utility of LA strain and early DSr in predicting elevated left ventricular filling pressures (LVFP) in patients with MAC and compare their effectiveness to ratio of mitral inflow velocity in early and late diastole (E/A).MethodsWe included adult patients with MAC who presented between January 1 and December 31, 2014 and received a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and cardiac catheterization with measurement of LVFP within a 24-h period. We used Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to assess associations of LA reservoir strain and average early DSr with LVFP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were computed to assess the effectiveness of LA strain and DSr in discriminating elevated LVFP as a dichotomized variable and to compare their effectiveness with E/A ratio categorized according to grade of diastolic dysfunction.ResultsFifty-five patients were included. LA reservoir strain demonstrated poor correlation with LVFP (Spearman’s rho = 0.03, p = 0.81) and poor discriminatory ability for detecting elevated LVFP (AUC = 0.54, 95% CI 0.38–0.69). Categorical E/A ratio alone also demonstrated poor discriminatory ability (AUC = 0.53, 95% CI 0.39–0.67), and addition of LA reservoir strain did not significantly improve effectiveness (AUC = 0.58, 95% CI 0.42–0.74, p = 0.56). Average early DSr also demonstrated poor correlation with LVFP (Spearman’s rho = −0.19, p = 0.16) and poor discriminatory ability for detecting elevated LVFP (AUC = 0.59, 95% CI 0.44–0.75). Addition of average early DSr to categorical E/A ratio failed to improve effectiveness (AUC = 0.62, 95% CI 0.46–0.77 vs. AUC = 0.54, 95% CI 0.39–0.69, p = 0.38).ConclusionsIn our sample, LA reservoir strain and DSr do not accurately predict diastolic filling pressure. Further research is required before LA strain and early DSr can be routinely used in clinical practice to assess filling pressure in patients with MAC.

Left ventricular early diastolic strain rate predicts mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract Introduction Speckle-tracking echocardiography is an increasingly important tool for assessing degenerative aortic valve stenosis (AS). This study aims to analyse left ventricular early diastolic strain rate (eSR) in patients with severe AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and explore its association with mortality during long-term follow-up. Methods From our prospective AS cohort study, 100 patients with severe AS and a comprehensive echocardiographic examination prior to TAVI were identified and eSR was determined using TomTec ImageArena v.4.6 (Figure A). All-cause five-year mortality was defined as the endpoint.± Results Baseline characteristics were comparablebetween non-survivors (14%) and survivors (86%) except for a higher STS-Score among the former (non-survivors: 3.6 [2.7–7.4]%; survivors: 2.6 [1.8–3.7]%; P=0.024). There was no significant difference between non-survivors and survivors with regard to LVEF (54 [50–58]% vs 58 [52–63]%; P=0.069) and LVGLS (-14.8 [-15.8 to -12.7]% vs -15.4 [-15.8 to -14.7]%; P=0.339). In contrast, eSR was significantly lower in non-survivors (0.72 [0.67–0.87]s-1) than survivors (0.88 [0.73–1.22]s-1); P=0.013; Figure B). Patients with an eSR ≤ 0.72 s-1 (ROC AUC 71%; P=0.008) exhibited a lower survival probability as revealed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P=0.001; Figure C). Inclusion of eSR improved the fitness (2) of a multivariable logistic regression model for LV systolic function (LVEF and LVGLS; Figure D). A similar effect was observed when eSR was included in a model for LV diastolic function (E/A and E/e’; Figure D). These improvements in 2 were significant for both models (ANOVA P=0.026, and P=0.037, respectively). Conclusions eSR differentiated non-survivors from survivors and was associated with long-term mortality after TAVI. This association was independent of and improved outcome prediction by LV systolic or diastolic function parameters. These findings highlight the potential value of eSR for assessing long-term mortality after TAVI.Figures

Left ventricular early diastolic strain rate and cardiovascular outcome in patients with left ventricular non-compaction phenotype

Abstract Introduction Speckle-tracking echocardiography is an increasingly important tool for assessing left ventricular non-compaction phenotype (LVNC). This study aims to analyse left ventricular early diastolic strain rate (eSR) in LVNC and explore its association with CV outcome during long-term follow-up. Methods Fifty-nine patients meeting prespecified criteria were included from our prospective LVNC cohort. eSR was determined using TomTec ImageArena (Figure A). A combined endpoint (cardiovascular events) was defined including atrial flutter/fibrillation, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, aborted cardiac arrest, and cardiovascular mortality. Results Baseline characteristics were comparable between patients reaching the endpoint (16 [27%]) and those without (43 [73%]) except for a higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease in the former (event group: 13%; no-event group: 2%; P=0.019). In the event group, there was a non-significant tendency for a lower LVEF (38 [26–56]% vs 51 [43–56]%; P=0.091) and LVGLS (-12.3 [-16.3 to -9.7]% vs -15.2 [-17.7 to -12.8]%; P=0.111). In contrast, eSR was significantly lower in the event group (0.45 [0.30–0.65]s-1 vs 0.70 [0.39–0.93]s-1; P=0.018; Figure B). Patients with an eSR ≤ 0.70 s-1 (ROC AUC 70%; P=0.005) exhibited a lower event-free probability in Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P=0.001; Figure C). Inclusion of eSR improved the fitness (ꭓ2) of a multivariable logistic regression model for clinical characteristics (age, gender, and NC:C ratio; Figure D), while LVEF and LVGLS did not (Table). This improvement in ꭓ2 by eSR was significant (ANOVA P=0.033), while that by LVEF or LVGLS was not (P=0.302 and 0.152, respectively). Conclusions eSR was lower in LVNC patients with events, differentiated those with events from those without, and was associated with a higher risk of events during long-term follow-up. Outcome association of eSR was independent of age, gender, and NC:C ratio and improved their event prediction. eSR has potential value for functional characterization and outcome prediction in LVNC.

Cardiac mechanics and incident ischemic stroke: the Cardiovascular Health Study

Recent evidence indicates that our understanding of the relationship between cardiac function and ischemic stroke remains incomplete. The Cardiovascular Health Study enrolled community-dwelling adults ≥ 65 years old. We included participants with speckle-tracking data from digitized baseline study echocardiograms. Exposures were left atrial reservoir strain (primary), left ventricular longitudinal strain, left ventricular early diastolic strain rate, septal e’ velocity, and lateral e’ velocity. The primary outcome was incident ischemic stroke. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for demographics, image quality, and risk factors including left ventricular ejection fraction and incident atrial fibrillation. Among 4,000 participants in our analysis, lower (worse) left atrial reservoir strain was associated with incident ischemic stroke (HR per SD absolute decrease, 1.14; 95% CI 1.04–25). All secondary exposure variables were significantly associated with the outcome. Left atrial reservoir strain was associated with cardioembolic stroke (HR per SD absolute decrease, 1.42; 95% CI 1.21–1.67) and cardioembolic stroke related to incident atrial fibrillation (HR per SD absolute decrease, 1.60; 1.32–1.95). Myocardial dysfunction that can ultimately lead to stroke may be identifiable at an early stage. This highlights opportunities to identify cerebrovascular risk earlier and improve stroke prevention via therapies for early myocardial dysfunction.

Association Between Myocardial Strain and Frailty in CHS.

Myocardial strain, measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography, is a novel measure of subclinical cardiovascular disease and may reflect myocardial aging. We evaluated the association between myocardial strain and frailty-a clinical syndrome of lack of physiological reserve. Frailty was defined in participants of the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) as having ≥3 of the following clinical criteria: weakness, slowness, weight loss, exhaustion, and inactivity. Using speckle-tracking echocardiography data, we examined the cross-sectional (n=3206) and longitudinal (n=1431) associations with frailty among participants who had at least 1 measure of myocardial strain, left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS), left ventricular early diastolic strain rate and left atrial reservoir strain, and no history of cardiovascular disease or heart failure at the time of echocardiography. In cross-sectional analyses, lower (worse) LVLS was associated with prevalent frailty; this association was robust to adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.07-1.61] per 1-SD lower strain; P=0.007) and left ventricular stroke volume (adjusted OR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.08-1.61] per 1-SD lower strain; P=0.007). In longitudinal analyses, adjusted associations of LVLS and left ventricular early diastolic strain with incident frailty were 1.35 ([95% CI, 0.96-1.89] P=0.086) and 1.58 ([95% CI, 1.11-2.27] P=0.013, respectively). Participants who were frail and had the worst LVLS had a 2.2-fold increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 2.20 [95% CI, 1.81-2.66]; P<0.0001). In community-dwelling older adults without prevalent cardiovascular disease, worse LVLS by speckle-tracking echocardiography, reflective of subclinical myocardial dysfunction, was associated with frailty. Frailty and LVLS have an additive effect on mortality risk.

Preliminary Observations of Prognostic Value of Left Atrial Functional Reserve during Dobutamine Infusion in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The importance of left atrial (LA) functional reserve in patients with depressed left ventricular function remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that diminished augmentation of LA function during dobutamine stress might be associated with cardiovascular events in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Eighty-four patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with a mean ejection fraction of 34 ± 9% were retrospectively recruited, and LA strain was determined as the averaged global speckle-tracking longitudinal strain from apical four-chamber and two-chamber views during dobutamine stress (20 μg/kg/min). The systolic component of LA strain was considered to reflect reservoir function, whereas the passive and active emptying components were considered to reflect passive and active emptying function, respectively. Event-free survival was tracked for 17 months. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis identified LA volume index (hazard ratio [HR], 1.060; P < .001) and β-blocker use (HR, 0.048; P < .05) as the independent variables associated with cardiovascular events among the baseline parameters and changes in systolic LA strain (HR, 0.971; P = .02), in passive emptying LA strain (HR, 0.942; P < .001), and in left ventricular early diastolic strain rate (HR, 0.986; P = .03) under dobutamine as the variables among the functional reserve parameters. In sequential Cox models, a model based on clinical variables (χ(2) = 9.3) was improved by conventional echocardiographic parameters (χ(2) = 19.2, P = .012) and LA strain parameters at rest (χ(2) = 40.1, P = .005) and further improved by the addition of changes in LA strain parameters under dobutamine (χ(2) = 61.6, P < .001). The assessment of LA reservoir and passive emptying function during dobutamine stress provides important incremental prognostic value in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.