Methods and results.
A total of 126 patients with asymptomatic sAR were included.
Conventional echocardiographic systolic and diastolic function
parameters were assessed. LA auto-strain analysis was performed in a
subgroup of 57 patients. During a mean follow up of 33±19 months, 25
(19,8%) patients reached the combined end-point. Univariate analysis
showed that LV volumes, LVEF, E wave, E/e’ ratio, LA volume and LA
reservoir strain (LASr) were significant predictors of events.
Multivariate model 1 that tested all echocardiographic variables
statistically significant in the univariate model showed that LVEDV
[HR=1,02;95% CI:1,01-1,03 (p<0,001)] and E/e’ ratio
[HR=1,12;95% CI:1,03-1,23 (p=0,01)] were significant predictors of
events. In the subgroup of patients with LA auto-strain analyzed, a
second multivariate model including the previous significant variables
for the first model as well as LASr, showed that LVEDV [HR=1,05;95%
CI:1,01-1,08 (p=0,016)] and LASr [HR=0,8;95% CI:0,65-0,98
(p<0,035)] were the most significant predictors of
cardiovascular events.