Left Atrial Early Function In Hypertensive Patients: Analysis From Two-dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging

Objective: To explore whether the left atrial early function in hypertensive patients could be assessed by using the two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI).Methods: The total of 78 hypertensive patients were included in this survey.The patients were divided into two group based on the case histories: simple hypertension(HP)group(n=46)and hypertension combining with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(HP+PAF)group(n=32).The patients were divided into two group based on the left atrial volume index(LAVI): normal left atrial volume(LAN)group(n=42)and enlarged left atrial volume(LAE)group(n=36).30 healthy participants were served as the control group(n=30).The color doppler echocardiography was performed in all the participants.The left atrial volume(LAV)was measured by Simpson method,and the left atrial volume index(LAVI)was calculated.The systolic,early and late diastolic peak strain rate(SRs,SRe and SRa)curves were acquired in each left atrial segment by 2D-STI.Further,the average strain rate(m SRs,m SRe and m SRa)were calculated.Results: The m SRs and m SRe were decreased in the control,HP and HP+PAF groups successively,and there were significant differences among the three groups.The m SRa was increased in HP and HP+PAF groups than in the control group,and The m SRa was decreased in HP+PAF group compared with HP group(P <0.05).The m SRs and m SRe were decreased in the control,LAN and LAE groups successively,and the m SRa was increased in LAN and LAE groups compared with the control group(P <0.05).Conclusion: The left atrial function was decreased in hypertensive patients compared with healthy people,especially those with hypertension combining with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.The left atrial function was decreased in hypertensive patients with normal left atrial volume than in healthy people.With the increasing of the left atrial volume,the left atrial function was decreased further.It suggested that the two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography was more sensitive than the left atrial volume for assessing the left atrial early function in hypertensive patients,which could be helpful for the early intervention.