Key result
HFrEF linked to ~313% greater risk of left atrial thrombus versus no heart failure.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of left atrial thrombus on transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter with reference to heart failure and its subtypes.
Does the presence of heart failure and its subtypes increase the risk of left atrial thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter?
Observational (n=3,109)
Yes
Does the presence of heart failure and its subtypes increase the risk of left atrial thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter?
Effect estimate: OR 4.13 (95% CI 3.13-5.46)
Absolute Event Rate: 20.3% vs 4.4%
p-value: p=<0.0001
HFrEF, but not HFmrEF or HFpEF, is associated with a significantly increased risk of left atrial thrombus in patients with AF/AFl undergoing TOE, suggesting LVEF ≤48% is a strong predictor of LAT.
AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of left atrial thrombus (LAT) on transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF/AFl) with reference to the presence of heart failure (HF) and its subtypes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The research is a sub-study of the multicentre, prospective, observational Left Atrial Thrombus on Transoesophageal Echocardiography (LATTEE) registry, which comprised 3109 consecutive patients with AF/AFl undergoing TOE prior to direct current cardioversion or catheter ablation. TOE parameters, including presence of LAT, were compared between patients with and without HF and across different subtypes of HF, including HF with preserved (HFpEF), mid-range (HFmrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). HF was diagnosed in 1336 patients (43%). HF patients had higher prevalence of LAT than non-HF patients (12.8% vs. 4.4%; P < 0.001). LAT presence increased with more advanced type of systolic dysfunction (HFpEF vs. HFmrEF vs. HFrEF: 7.4% vs. 10.5% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that HFrEF (odds ratio [OR] 4.13; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 3.13-5.46), but not HFmrEF or HFpEF, was associated with the presence of LAT. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that lower left ventricular ejection fraction (OR per 1%: 0.94; 95% CI 0.93-0.95) was an independent predictor of LAT formation. Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed LVEF ≤48% adequately predicted increased risk of LAT presence (area under the curve [AUC] 0.74; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of HFrEF, but neither HFmrEF nor HFpEF, confers a considerable risk of LAT presence despite widespread utilization of adequate anticoagulation.
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Wybraniec et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (n=3,109). Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) vs. No heart failure was evaluated on Presence of left atrial thrombus (LAT) on transoesophageal echocardiography (OR 4.13, 95% CI 3.13-5.46, p=<0.0001). Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) significantly increased the risk of left atrial thrombus presence (OR 4.13) compared to patients without heart failure.
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