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ASSESSMENT OF LEFT ATRIAL STRAIN AND STIFFNESS BY SPECKLE-TRACKING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY HYPERTENSION
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Abstract
Objective: To assess left atrial strain and stiffness using speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with primary hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 103 patients diagnosed with primary hypertension. The control group consisted of 31 healthy age-matched individuals. All participants underwent standardized transthoracic echocardiography combined with speckle-tracking imaging to evaluate left atrial strain and stiffness. Results: In the hypertensive group, left atrial diameter and volume index (LAD, LAVmax, and LAVi) were significantly higher than in the control group (LAD 31.4 ± 3.6 mm vs. 28.8 ± 3.3 mm; LAVmax 39.2 ± 10.4 ml vs. 33.5 ± 7.3 ml; LAVi 24.7 ± 6.5 vs. 21.9 ± 4.1; all p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in total, passive, and active left atrial emptying fractions between the two groups (LATEF 63.2 ± 9.4% vs. 63.3 ± 6.0%; LAPEF 29.5 ± 11.4% vs. 31.4 ± 10.3%; LAAEF 47.4 ± 11.9% vs. 46.0 ± 9.4%; all p > 0.05). In the hypertensive group, reservoir strain LASr 4-chamber was 35.9 ± 10.6%, LASr 2-chamber was 34.0 ± 9.3%; conduit strain LAScd 4-chamber was 16.7 ± 8.1%, LAScd 2-chamber was 14.7 ± 6.5%; booster strain LASct 4-chamber was 19.1 ± 8.0%, LASct 2-chamber was 19.5 ± 7.3%; left atrial stiffness index (LASI) was 0.24 ± 0.1. Compared with the control group, reservoir and conduit strains were significantly reduced, and left atrial stiffness was significantly increased (p < 0.05), while booster strain showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with hypertension had larger left atrial size compared to healthy controls. Although left atrial emptying fractions were not significantly altered, reservoir and conduit strain were markedly reduced, accompanied by a significant increase in left atrial stiffness.
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Keywords
primary hypertension, left atrial strain, left atrial stiffness.
References
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