Automated function imaging derived global systolic longitudinal strain showed strong correlation with standard speckle tracking echocardiography at baseline (r = 0.90) and peak dobutamine stress (r = 0.86).
Observational (n=238)
No
Does automated function imaging (AFI) correlate with standard 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) for assessing left ventricular function during dobutamine stress echocardiography?
Automated function imaging is a faster, less operator-dependent method that correlates well with standard speckle tracking echocardiography for assessing longitudinal strain during dobutamine stress echocardiography.
Effect estimate: r = 0.90
p-value: p=<0.0001
Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a method of quantitative assessment of myocardial function complementary to ejection fraction and visual evaluation. Standard STE analysis, demands manual tracing of the myocardium whereas automated function imaging (AFI) offers more convenient (based on selection of three points) assessment of longitudinal strain. Nevertheless, feasibility and correlation between both methods were not thoroughly examined, especially during tachycardia at peak stage of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). We performed DSE in 238 patients (pts) with recording of apical views during baseline (0) and peak (1) DSE and analyzed them by STE and AFI. According to angiography, 127/238 pts had significant (≥70%) lesions in coronary arteries. We assessed correlations between STE and AFI derived peak systolic longitudinal strain values for global and regional parameters, feasibility, time of analysis and interobserver agreement. Global systolic longitudinal strain measured during baseline and peak stage of DSE by AFI showed very good correlation with standard STE parameters, with correlation coefficients r = 0.90 and r = 0.86 respectively (p < 0.0001). For regional parameters correlation coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.85 for baseline and from 0.70 to 0.79 for peak DSE. Both methods provided good and similar feasibility with only 1% segments excluded from analysis at peak stage of DSE with shorter time and lower coefficient of variance offered by AFI. Global and regional longitudinal strain achieved by faster and less operator-dependent AFI method correlate well with standard more time-consuming STE analysis during baseline and peak stage of DSE.
Wierzbowska‐Drabik et al. (2014) conducted an observational in Stable angina (n=238). Automated function imaging (AFI) vs. Standard 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was evaluated on Correlation of global systolic longitudinal strain between AFI and STE at baseline (r = 0.90, p=<0.0001). Automated function imaging derived global systolic longitudinal strain showed strong correlation with standard speckle tracking echocardiography at baseline (r = 0.90) and peak dobutamine stress (r = 0.86).