Determinants of left atrial stiffness by reservoir strain using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography in structurally normal heart

The left atrium (LA)’s essential function is modulating left ventricular (LV) filling via its different reservoir, conduit, and contractile functions. This could be accurately achieved now by dedicated speckle-tracking echocardiography software.

We included in this prospective cohort study 200 subjects with structurally normal hearts, who present for elective echocardiography, routine echocardiography was performed in addition to left atrial strain analysis by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

To study the effect of different variables on left atrial reservoir strain.

The study population consisted of 134 males and 66 females, age range between 20 and 69 years of age. linear regression analysis was performed to examine the contributions of different variables as predictors in explaining the variance.

S-R (strain reservoir) was significantly affected by age in a negative correlation with P = 0.032. Body weight, height, BMI (body mass index), lipid profile and HbA1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) had no significant impact on S-R left atrial function. All echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function including E/A ratio, Septal E′, Lateral E′, E/E′ and TR jet velocity had no significant impact on S-R left atrial function.

Maximum and minimum indexed left atrial volumes, indexed LV systolic and diastolic volumes measured by Simpson’s method had no significant effect on S-R left atrial function.

Left atrial stiffness increases with age. Obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance and diastolic dysfunction have no significant effect on the S-R of the left atrium.

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