Epicardial obesity and left atrial mechanical dispersion in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Aim. To compare the epicardial fat thickness (EFT) in right ventricular anterior wall (RVAW) and left atrial mechanical dispersion (LAMD) in hypertensive (HTN) patients without arrhythmias and with various types of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods. This observational cross-sectional single-center study included 383 patients with HTN, of which 251 did not have AF, 61 patients had paroxysmal, and 71 patients — persistent AF. Echocardiography performed against the background of sinus rhythm assessed the EFT in RVAW. In addition, using speckle-tracking echocardiography, the LAMD was determined, equal to the percentage of the standard deviation of the time to peak global longitudinal LA strain in the reservoir phase to duration of cardiac cycle.Results. In HTN patients without AF, with paroxysmal and persistent AF, the EFT was 6,70 [5,80; 8,00], 8,20 [7,10; 9,93] and 8,70 [7,93; 10,0] mm (р<0,0001), LAMD — 0,72 [0,58; 0,93], 2,87 [2,40; 3,28] and 2,67 [2,11; 3,15]% (p<0,0001), respectively.Conclusion. In HTN patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF, the EFT in RVAW and LAMD is significantly greater than in patients without arrhythmias. In patients with persistent AF, EFT is greater than in paroxysmal AF, while LAMD practically does not differ.

Keywords

• hypertension
• atrial fibrillation
• epicardial fat
• speckle-tracking echocardiography
• left atrial mechanical dispersion