TY - JOUR T1 - Left atrial deformation analysis by speckle tracking echocardiography to predict exercise capacity after myocardial infarction JO - Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia (English edition) T2 - AU - Fontes-Carvalho,Ricardo AU - Sampaio,Francisco AU - Teixeira,Madalena AU - Ruivo,Catarina AU - Ribeiro,José AU - Azevedo,Ana AU - Leite-Moreira,Adelino AU - Ribeiro,Vasco Gama SN - 21742049 M3 - 10.1016/j.repce.2017.10.015 DO - 10.1016/j.repce.2017.10.015 UR - https://revportcardiol.org/en-left-atrial-deformation-analysis-by-articulo-S2174204918303520 AB - IntroductionLeft atrial (LA) size and function are associated with outcome after myocardial infarction (MI). In this study we aimed to assess the impact of LA function as a predictor of exercise capacity through speckle tracking echocardiography. MethodsA total of 94 patients (mean age 54.8±11.0 years; 82% male) were enrolled one month after MI. Echocardiography was used to assess LA volumes and various indices of LA conduit, contraction and reservoir function. LA deformation was assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking to calculate strain and strain rate at different phases of the cardiac cycle. Exercise capacity was assessed by oxygen uptake (VO2) on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. ResultsIncreased LA volumes, especially LA volume before atrial contraction, were correlated with reduced peak VO2 and reduced VO2 at anaerobic threshold. Decreased peak VO2 was associated with reduced LA conduit function (ρ=0.24; p=0.02), but not with LA booster function (ρ=-0.07; p=0.53). Lower peak atrial longitudinal strain was associated with worse exercise capacity (ρ=0.24; p=0.02). ConclusionsAfter MI, increased LA volumes were markers of decreased functional capacity that was associated with decreased LA conduit function, but not with LA contractile function. In these patients, LA longitudinal strain analysis may be useful to predict reduced exercise capacity. ER -