What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n=88). Intervention: Left atrial contraction strain (LASct). Primary outcome: New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) within 12 months (OR 0.768, 95% CI 0.666-0.886, p=<0.001).

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether left atrial strain parameters and mechanical indices can predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction receiving cardiac implantable electronic devices.

September 18, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Left atrial contraction strain as a predictor of device-detected atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Lower left atrial contraction strain was significantly associated with device-detected new-onset atrial fibrillation (OR 0.768) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Reduced left atrial contraction strain is associated with and serves as a strong predictor of new-onset device-detected atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether left atrial strain parameters and mechanical indices can predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction receiving cardiac implantable electronic devices.

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Key result

Higher left atrial contraction strain linked to ~23% lower odds of device-detected NOAF in HFrEF.

OR 0.768
95% CI 0.666-0.886
P<0.001
n=88

Why the study?

Does left atrial contraction strain predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with HFrEF undergoing ICD or CRT implantation?

Population

88 adult patients with symptomatic HFrEF, sinus rhythm, and no prior history of atrial fibrillation…

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

12 months

Authors

MDMartyna DąbrowskaMilitary Institute MPMagdalena Potapowicz-KrysztofiakCardiac Imaging MKMarek KiliszekElectrophysiology

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

May support LASct for NOAF risk stratification in HFrEF device patients; leaves open prospective validation before clinical adoption.

Key Points

To evaluate whether left atrial strain parameters and mechanical indices can predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction receiving cardiac implantable electronic devices.
Analyzed 88 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%) undergoing implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy device.
Assessed left atrial mechanics and cardiac function via transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiography at baseline and after 12 months.
Identified new-onset atrial fibrillation episodes during follow-up through scheduled cardiac device interrogation.
New-onset atrial fibrillation was detected in 15 of 88 patients (17%) at a median time to episode of 8 months (IQR 5–9).
In univariable logistic regression, lower left atrial contraction strain (OR 0.768, p < 0.001), lower reservoir strain (OR 0.802, p < 0.001), and higher stiffness index (OR 2.218, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation.
Left atrial contraction strain showed the highest discriminative performance (AUC 0.829, 95% CI 0.719–0.939; cut-off < 8% had 73.3% sensitivity and 79.5% specificity) and remained independently associated after adjusting for left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.778, 95% CI 0.674–0.898; p < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=88)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does left atrial contraction strain predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with HFrEF undergoing ICD or CRT implantation?

Population

88 adult patients with symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) and sinus rhythm undergoing ICD or CRT implantation, followed for 12 months.

Exposure

Measurement of left atrial contraction strain (LASct) and other left atrial mechanics via 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography at baseline

Outcome

New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) within 12 months after the procedure, diagnosed by ICD/CRT device interrogation and confirmed by an experienced clinician

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 0.768 (95% CI 0.666–0.886)

p-value: p=<0.001

Impaired left atrial mechanics, particularly reduced left atrial contraction strain, strongly predict device-detected new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with HFrEF.

Limitations

Single centre with a relatively small sample size
Sex distribution was markedly imbalanced between groups
Echocardiographic strain measurements are operator-dependent
AF burden, the number of episodes and the duration of the longest episode were not routinely retrieved
Small number of outcome events (n=15)
Small number of events (n=15)
Strong intercorrelation between LA functional indices
Lack of external validation

Cite This Study

Dąbrowska et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n=88). Left atrial contraction strain (LASct) was evaluated on New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) within 12 months (OR 0.768, 95% CI 0.666-0.886, p=<0.001). Lower left atrial contraction strain was significantly associated with device-detected new-onset atrial fibrillation (OR 0.768) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aacf5ed0c46fbdff987dd76 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69649-2

Topics

Atrial fibrillation Persistent AF management HFrEF treatment Heart failure AF ablation outcomes

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Left atrial contraction strain as a predictor of device-detected atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Topics

Left atrial contraction strain as a predictor of device-detected atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Topics

Also Consider