Statistical analysis
The data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software
(IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). Baseline characteristics were presented using
proportions for categorical variables and mean with standard deviation
(SD) or medians with quartiles for continuous variables. The normality
of distribution for continuous variables was assessed using the
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and normally distributed quantitative data were
expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Categorical variables were
described in terms of frequency and percentage. Paired t-tests were used
for the analysis of normally distributed quantitative data, while
Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed for data that were not normally
distributed. Comparisons between LAAWV and other variables such as LVEF,
GLS, E/e’, and NT pro-BNP were performed using Student’s t-test or
chi-square tests, as appropriate. To determine correlations between the
PWTDI velocities and continuous variables, Pearson’s correlation
coefficient was used, while the Spearman rank correlation coefficient
was utilized for curvilinear data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was
considered statistically significant for all analyses.