Comparison of Left Atrial Mechanical Function in Nondipper versus Dipper Hypertensive Patients: A Speckle Tracking Study

Abstract

Nondipping in treated hypertensive patients was associated with an adverse cardiac remodeling and impaired LA mechanical function. Further studies are warranted to demonstrate the long-term prognostic significance of these findings.

Evaluation of atrial electromechanical functions in dipper and nondipper hypertension patients using left atrial strain P‐wave dispersion and P terminal force

“…Recently, LA deformation analyses using 2D-STE proved to be superior to conventional echocardiography for detecting subtle changes in LA function. 18 In parallel with this previous study, we observed significant differences in LA strain between dippers and nondippers, although there were no differences in tissue velocity between the two groups. LA wall fibrosis is also inversely related to the strain rate and LA strain.…”

“…patients have an increased incidence of target organ damage, 12,13 LV hypertrophy, LV diastolic dysfunction, and atrial rhythm disturbances compared with dipper patients. 18,19 Decreased LA strain is also related to atrial fibrillation. However, conventional echocardiography seems to be inadequate for detecting subclinical LA dysfunction.…”

“…17 Several studies have suggested that both the strain and strain rate are correlated inversely with age and LA diameter in healthy individuals, and the LA strain rate decreases before LA enlargement and LV hypertrophy develop in hypertensive patients. 18 Recent studies evaluating LAV and LAVI found that patients with an increased LAV have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease than do patients with normal values. 18,19 Decreased LA strain is also related to atrial fibrillation.…”

Is there a relationship between right-ventricular and right atrial mechanics and functional capacity in hypertensive patients?

“…These changes are confirmed in our patients who showed decreased right atrial early diastolic strain rate, and increased late diastolic strain rate. Similar findings were obtained for the left atrial mechanics in arterial hypertension [23,24].…”

The association of night-time systolic blood pressure with ultrasound markers of subclinical cardiac and vascular disease

“…In untreated hypertensive patients, Tadic et al 23 found reduced two-dimensional and three-dimensional LV GLS and reduced atrial longitudinal strain in nondippers compared with dippers. Acar et al 41 also examined LA strain in dippers and nondippers and found reduced atrial function in nondippers. Others have examined right heart mechanics and found reduced function in nondippers 42.…”