Abstract

The two atria maintain the equilibrium of heart. Structure and function of atria gets altered in many pathological conditions of heart. Assessment of atrial function by imaging is always challenging. This study was designed to assess the changes in left atrial function index (LAFI) in patients with diastolic dysfunction (DD)
Materials and methods
The study population was divided into cases and controls. Cases included 25 patients with diastolic dysfunction. Controls included 25 healthy volunteers. LAFI was calculated in both groups using echocardiography. LAFI = Left Atrial emptying fraction (LAEF) x Left Ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral) / Left atrial end systolic volume indexed to BSA (LAESVI)
Results
Patients with diastolic dysfunction showed higher atrial diameters (42.79 ± 6.08        vs 35.29 ± 3.09, p<0.0001) and left atrial end systolic volume index (33.76 ± 6.69      vs 22.03 ± 1.95, p<0.0001), depressed left atrial emptying fraction (56.47 ± 1.32 vs 66.48 ± 3.87, P<0.0001) and LAFI (16.48 ± 6.69 vs 46.51 ± 6.39, p<0.0001).
Conclusion
In our study, LAFI decreased as diastolic dysfunction grade increased