Association of LAAWV values with the LVEF
Dysfunction in left ventricular (LV) systolic and/or diastolic function impacts the contractility of the left atrial appendage (LAA), primarily influencing LAA filling pressures. Additionally, impaired LV relaxation is associated with a simultaneous decline in both mitral inflow E waves and LAA early diastolic flow. Takahide Ito et al. demonstrated the significance of LAA function parameters as predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with ischemic or non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients with lower LAA emptying velocity experienced higher cardiac mortality compared to those with higher LAA emptying velocity. Similarly, our study also found that LAAW velocities were significantly reduced in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction. We observed a linear correlation between LAAW velocity and LVEF, where lower LAAW velocity was associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction. However, interestingly, we observed a closer correlation between LAAW velocity and LVEF in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy compared to those with ischemic cardiomyopathy. These differing correlations may indicate variations in the underlying mechanisms and pathophysiology of the two conditions.