Heart failure & cardiomyopathies
Measures of left atrial function and risk of incident atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
An erratum to this article was published (Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging, 8 Sep 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
Impaired PALS, LAEF, and PACS were all associated with an increased risk of incident AF in outpatients with HFrEF.
Study context
- Population
- Outpatients with HFrEF from a HF clinic, free from atrial fibrillation (AF) at baselinefinal study population, free from AF at baseline
- Participants
- 452 outpatients
- Exposure
- Measures of left atrial (LA) function and risk of incident AF
- Outcome
- Incident AF
- Follow-up
- Median 9.4 years [IQR: 5.2, 12.7]
Methodological detailsfollowed using the Danish National Patient Registry
- Followed using the Danish National Patient Registry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Developed AF
118
26.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (per 1% decrease) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incident AF by measures of LA function (adjusted Cox regression)LAEF · adjusted | 1.03 (1.02–1.04) | P = 0.009 | |
| Incident AF by measures of LA function (adjusted Cox regression)PALS · adjusted | 1.06 (1.04–1.09) | P = 0.037 | |
| Incident AF by measures of LA function (adjusted Cox regression)PACS · adjusted | 1.07 (1.03–1.10) | P = 0.021 | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
- Incident AF by measures of LA function (adjusted Cox regression): significantly associated in univariable and adjusted Cox regression analysis
LAVi, LA emptying fraction (LAEF), peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), peak atrial contractile strain (PACS) in subjects who developed AF
- Higher LAVi, while LAEF, PALS, and PACS were all significantly lower
Effect modification
- LAEF modified by sex (P for interaction)
- 0.007
- LAEF modified by valve disease (P for interaction)
- 0.041
- PACS modified by valve disease (P for interaction)
- 0.011
Original publication
Measures of left atrial function and risk of incident atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 17 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →