Key result
Abnormal left atrial reservoir strain is linked to worse CV outcomes in systemic sclerosis.
Why the study?
LA reservoir strain provides prognostic information, but its prevalence and relationship with pulmonary hemodynamics and CV outcomes in SSc patients required investigation.
Does abnormal left atrial reservoir strain predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with systemic sclerosis without structural cardiac disease?
Cohort (n=52)
Does abnormal left atrial reservoir strain predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with systemic sclerosis without structural cardiac disease?
p-value: p=0.036
Left atrial dysfunction assessed by reservoir strain identifies systemic sclerosis patients at higher risk for adverse pulmonary hemodynamics and cardiovascular events.
May support LA strain for risk stratification in systemic sclerosis; leaves open need for prospective validation before clinical adoption.
Abstract Background Left atrial (LA) reservoir strain (LARS) is emerging as an early marker of cardiac remodelling, providing significant prognostic information. The present study investigated the prevalence of LA dysfunction and its association with pulmonary hemodynamics and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Methods We included 52 patients who had SSc without structural cardiac disease. All patients underwent 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and right heart catheterization. LARS was assessed by using speckle-tracking analysis. The study outcome was a composite of heart failure or pulmonary hypertension (PH)–related hospitalization, lung transplantation, and CV death. Results Abnormal LARS (< 24%) was present in 18 patients (34.6%). Despite the similar prevalence of PH between groups with abnormal vs normal LARS (P = 0.322), patients with LA dysfunction had significantly higher pulmonary vascular resistance (3.5 Wood Units [1.9-5.2] vs 2.0 Wood Units [1.3-2.9], P = 0.029) and reduced pulmonary artery compliance (2.4 [2.1-4.1] ml/mm Hg vs. 3.9 [2.5-5.0] ml/mm Hg, p=0.024) than those with normal LARS. During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, patients with LA dysfunction displayed worse event-free survival than their counterparts (log-rank P = 0.036). The combination of LA function and PH status provided better risk stratification for composite CV outcome, as the highest incidence of adverse outcome was observed in patients with LA dysfunction and PH (40.0%), followed by those with LA dysfunction or PH alone (13.6%), and finally those without LA dysfunction and PH (0%, P = 0.008). Conclusions LA dysfunction was related to unfavourable pulmonary artery remodelling and adverse outcomes in SSc patients without structural cardiac disease.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hirose et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Systemic sclerosis (n=52). Abnormal left atrial reservoir strain (< 24%) vs. Normal left atrial reservoir strain was evaluated on Composite of heart failure or pulmonary hypertension-related hospitalization, lung transplantation, and CV death (p=0.036). Abnormal left atrial reservoir strain (<24%) in systemic sclerosis patients was associated with worse event-free survival for cardiovascular outcomes compared to normal strain (log-rank P=0.036).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: