Key result
Low global late diastolic strain rate is independently linked to higher major cardiovascular risk.
Why the study?
Does a global late diastolic strain rate (GSRa) below the lower limit of normality predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes?
Cohort
Does a global late diastolic strain rate (GSRa) below the lower limit of normality predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes?
Age- and sex-specific lower limits of normality for global late diastolic strain rate provide independent prognostic information for adverse cardiovascular events.
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) strain rates assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography have exhibited clinical and prognostic significance but remain sparsely used. OBJECTIVES: We sought to establish age and sex-based normative values of LV strain rates and to assess the prognostic yield of lower limits of normality (LLN). METHODS: LV strain rate parameters included global systolic strain rate (GSRs), global early diastolic strain rate (GSRe) and global late diastolic strain rate (GSRa). The primary population consisted of healthy participants free of risk factors from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. The prognostic yield of LLN was assessed against a composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, incident heart failure and acute myocardial infarction using Cox regression in a secondary validation population, regardless of health status. RESULTS: (0.60, 0.93) for GSRa. Normative values were determined according to sex and four age intervals. All three parameters differed across sexes, while GSRs was negatively correlated with heart rate; GSRe and GSRa were negatively and positively correlated with age, respectively. GSRa below the sex- and age-appropriate LLN was independently associated with a higher risk of the composite outcome. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study to report sex- and age-specific normal values for LV strain rates. The LLNs identified, namely for GSRa, provided independent prognostic information regarding adverse cardiovascular events.
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Christensen et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Healthy participants and general population. Left ventricular strain rates below lower limits of normality vs. Left ventricular strain rates within normal limits was evaluated on Composite of cardiovascular death, incident heart failure and acute myocardial infarction. Global late diastolic strain rate (GSRa) below the sex- and age-appropriate lower limit of normality was independently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular death, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.
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