Left ventricular stiffness assessed by diastolic Wall strain predicts asymptomatic atrial high-rate episodes in patients with pacemaker implantation.

Abstract Background Cardiac implantable electronic device-detected atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) have been reported to be associated with thromboembolic risks. The present study aimed to investigate the association of echocardiographic and clinical parameters with the occurrence of AHREs in patients with a dual-chamber pacemaker (PMI). Methods One hundred forty-seven patients (76 males, 75.2 ± 8.9 years) who did not show atrial tachyarrhythmia before the implantation of the PMI were studied. Diastolic wall strain (DWS) and other measurements were assessed during sinus rhythm using transthoracic echocardiography before the PMI. DWS was calculated from the M-mode echocardiographic measurement of the left ventricular (LV) posterior wall thickness at end-systole (PWs) and end-diastole (PWd), and DWS was defined as (PWs-PWd) / PWs. Results AHREs (defined as AHREs duration >6 min and atrial rate >180 bpm) were detected in 50 / 147 patients during follow up (38.3 ± 13.8 months). Patients in the AHREs group had reduced DWS (0.29 ± 0.07 vs. 0.39 ± 0.06, p  Conclusion LV stiffness assessed by DWS was associated with AHREs in patients with a PMI.