Cross-sectional study
Reduced Left Atrial Rotational Flow Is Independently Associated With Embolic Brain Infarcts
- Cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Reduced LA flow vorticity is significantly and independently associated with embolic brain infarcts.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with prior ischemic stroke or without stroke but CHA2DS2VASc ≥1, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) left atrial (LA) 4D flow and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Participants
- 134 patients
- Exposure
- Lower vs higher LA vorticity and embolic brain infarcts
- Ischemic stroken = 44
- No stroken = 90
- Outcome
- Large noncortical or cortical infarcts (LNCCIs, likely embolic) on brain MRI
Main finding
Prevalent LNCCIs
Odds ratio
2.06 per SD
95% CI 1.08–3.92
P = 0.027
Lower LA vorticity
OR 2.06 per SD (95% CI 1.08–3.92); P = 0.027
Per SD, as printed
As reported in the abstract
- LA flow peak velocity not significantly associated with LNCCIs
- P = 0.21
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Brain infarct prevalence
- ≥1 LNCCI
- 39 (29%)
- ≥1 lacunar infarct without LNCCI
- 20 (15%)
- No infarct
- 75 (56%)
Lacunar infarcts
- No LA parameter associated with lacunar infarcts
- all P > 0.05
Original publication
Reduced Left Atrial Rotational Flow Is Independently Associated With Embolic Brain Infarcts. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 17 May 2023. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2023.03.006
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it