Assessment of left atrial mechanical function and synchrony in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Background The aim of this study was to investigate left atrial (LA) function and synchrony in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients using two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods Forty‐five PAF patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. LA peak ventricular systolic longitudinal strain (LAS‐S) and strain rate (LASR‐S) and left atrial longitudinal strain (LAS‐A) and strain rate (LASR‐A) during late diastole were determined using STE, and the standard deviation of the time to peak (TPSD) of the regional strains was calculated to quantify LA dyssynchrony. TPSD during ventricular systole and late diastole were named SDs and SDa, respectively. Results Left atrial peak longitudinal strain during ventricular systole (LAS‐S) (29.34±8.57 vs 36.73±6.13), LASR‐S (1.27±0.311 vs 1.57±0.25), LAS‐A (13.11±4.91 vs 17.86±3.57), and LASR‐A (−1.51±0.58 vs −1.90±0.30) were reduced in the PAF group compared with the controls (P