Global left atrial strain correlates with CHADS2 risk score in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association between echocardiographic parameters and CHADS2 score in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Seventy-seven subjects (36 patients with AF, 41 control subjects) underwent standard two-dimensional, Doppler, and speckle-tracking echocardiography to compute regional and global left atrial (LA) strain. RESULTS: Global longitudinal LA strain was reduced in patients with AF compared with controls (P < .001) and was a predictor of high risk for thromboembolism (CHADS2 score ≥ 2; odds ratio, 0.86; P = .02). LA strain indexes showed good interobserver and intraobserver variability. In sequential Cox models, the prediction of hospitalization and/or death was improved by addition of global LA strain and indexed LA volume to CHADS2 score (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: LA strain is a reproducible marker of dynamic LA function and a predictor of stroke risk and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with AF.