Correlation of left ventricular global longitudinal strain and angiographically derived SYNTAX score in patients of stable angina pectoris

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to assess the relationship between global longitudinal strain (GLS) by two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and SYNTAX score (SS) in patients with stable angina pectoris and normal baseline left ventricular (LV) function. Methods: Fifty patients aged ≥18 years presented with stable angina pectoris with LV ejection fraction ≥60.0% posted for elective coronary angiography were included in the study. All the patients underwent 2D echocardiography, 2D STE, and coronary angiography. GLS and SSs were calculated. The primary objective was to find the correlation between GLS and SS in assessing the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), whereas the secondary objectives were to find the sensitivity and specificity of GLS to predict critical CAD. Results: A significant negative correlation (−0.862, P = 0.001) was observed between GLS and SSs. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of GLS score 16 were 100.0%, 64.0%, 73.5%, 100.0%, and 82.0, respectively, in predicting higher SS (≥22). The mean GLS values were significantly higher in noncritical CAD (16.4 ± 1.1) as compared to critical CAD (12.4 ± 1.3). Conclusions: GLS is a useful noninvasive tool to detect the severity of CAD.

Keywords

• coronary artery disease
• correlation
• global longitudinal strain
• syntax score
• two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography