LAUSR

Left atrial volume index (LAVi) has been established as a surrogate marker for chronically elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. Moreover it is a powerful predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) in different pathologies. However, there is limited data for additional and sensitive echocardiographic predictors of AF in patients without over heart disease. To investigate middle- aged AF patients without overt heart disease and to identify additional echocardiographic predictors of AF. A total of 936 consecutive patients with AF, who had been admitted for sinus rhythm restoriation in our hospital for the period January 2016- December 2018, were screened for participation in the study. Only 70 patients met the inclusion criteria- stable sinus rhythm, age between 40–60 years, without over heart disease. They were separated in 2 groups: with new onset AF (n=33) and recurrent AF (n=37); 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in the control group. All patients underwent two dimensional echocardiographic assessment with volumetric and speckle tracking analyses. There were significant differences between all groups in: LAVi; LA total (LATEF), passive (LAPEF) and active (LAAEF) emptying fractions; LA reservoir (LASr), conduit (LAScd) and contractile (LASct) strain; LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), but not in other LV indices – table. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that LAVi (B=0.012, p=0.05, 95% CI: 0.000–0.023), LASr (B=−0.055, p=0.0001, 95% CI: −0.071 to −0.039), LASct (B=0.041, p=0.001, 95% CI: 0.016–0.066) are independent predictors of AF. In middle- aged patients without overt heart disease LASr and LASct have additive value beyond LAVi in prediction of AF. Type of funding source: None