[Assessment of left atrial phasic functions in heart failure patients with preserved or low ejection fractions].
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate left atrial (LA) volumes and phasic functions in heart failure patients with preserved or low ejection fractions.


METHODS
The study consisted of 59 patients (36 men, 23 women; mean age 63.8 years) with heart failure accompanied by low (n=26) or preserved (n=33) ejection fractions. Two-dimensional echocardiographic LA volumes (maximal, minimal and pre-contraction volumes) were obtained and LA phasic functions (reservoir, conduit, and pumping functions) were calculated. The findings were compared with those of age- and sex-matched 30 controls (20 men, 10 women; mean age 60.3 years) without heart failure.


RESULTS
All LA volumes were found to be significantly increased in both groups with heart failure compared with controls. Left atrial reservoir and pumping functions were significantly lower in patients with preserved ejection fraction than in those with low ejection fraction (p=0.02 and p=0.009, respectively). Left atrial conduit function was significantly lower in heart failure patients with low ejection fraction than in those with preserved ejection fraction (p=0.005). Compared with controls, heart failure patients with either low or preserved ejection fractions exhibited significantly decreased LA phasic functions (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that, compared to subjects without heart failure, all phasic LA functions are impaired in heart failure patients with either low or preserved ejection fraction. However, impairment in LA reservoir and pumping functions is more prominent in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction.
Department of Cardiology, Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Emine
E
Bilen
Mustafa
M
Kurt
Ibrahim Halil
IH
Tanboğa
Umran
U
Koçak
Hüseyin
H
Ayhan
Tahir
T
Durmaz
Engin
E
Bozkurt
D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*