Relation of presence and severity of metabolic syndrome with left atrial mechanics in patients without overt diabetes: a deformation imaging study.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate left atrium (LA) function by speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and to show a possible relationship between the severity of MetSyn and LA function and to determine the predictors of low strain in MetSyn patients.


METHODS
Our study design was observational and cross-sectional design consisted of 80 MetSyn patients without overt diabetes and 50 controls. The patients were classified into three groups based on the number of MetSyn criteria. The peak LA strain at the end of the ventricular systole (LAs-strain) as well as the LA strain with LA contraction (LAa-strain) was obtained. Correlation analysis performed to assess the association of LA strain parameters with the severity of MetSyn and logistic regression analysis performed to assess the relationship of low LA strain with MetSyn.


RESULTS
Both LAs (37.5±8.7 vs. 26.0±10.2, p<0.001) and LAa (19.9±6.3 vs. 13.0±6.4, p<0.001) strain measurements were found to be significantly decreased in patients with MetSyn when compared to the control group. Moreover, both LAs and LAa were found to be significantly decreased with the increasing severity of the MetSyn. A multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of MetSyn [OR:0.26 (95% CI 0.06-0.89), p=0.032] and left ventricular ejection fraction [OR:1.14 (95% CI 1.03-1.27), p=0.021] were independent predictors of LAs strain.


CONCLUSIONS
MetSyn is associated with reduced LAs strain and LAa strain representing LA reservoir and pump function, respectively. Furthermore, LA mechanical function decreases even more with the increasing severity of the MetSyn.
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University; Hatay-Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Kurt
Ibrahim Halil
IH
Tanboğa
Eyüp
E
Büyükkaya
Mehmet Fatih
MF
Karakaş
Adnan Burak
AB
Akçay
Nihat
N
Sen
Emine
E
Bilen
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index