Atrial Dysfunction in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Atrial Fibrillation

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 76; no. 9; pp. 1051 - 1064
• Main Authors: Reddy, Yogesh N.V., Obokata, Masaru, Verbrugge, Frederik H., Lin, Grace, Borlaug, Barry A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2020
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; atrial fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation - diagnostic imaging; Atrial Fibrillation - epidemiology; Atrial Fibrillation - physiopathology; Atrial Function, Left - physiology; Cardiac Catheterization - methods; Cardiac Catheterization - trends; Cohort Studies; Electrocardiography - methods; Electrocardiography - trends; exercise hemodynamics; Exercise Test - methods; Exercise Test - trends; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Failure - diagnostic imaging; Heart Failure - epidemiology; Heart Failure - physiopathology; HFpEF; Humans; left atrial strain; Male; Middle Aged; pericardial restraint; Stroke Volume - physiology; RAP; EF; exercise hemodynamics; HFpEFparox-AF; RV; AF; pericardial restraint; CI; PCWP; HR; LV; HFpEF; PA; atrial fibrillation; LA; HFpEFno-AF; LVTMP; HFpEFperm-AF; left atrial strain
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.07.009

Paroxysmal and permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) are common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
This study sought to determine the implications of left atrial (LA) myopathy and dysrhythmia across the spectrum of AF burden in HFpEF.
Consecutive patients with HFpEF (n = 285) and control subjects (n = 146) underwent invasive exercise testing and echocardiographic assessment of cardiac structure, function, and pericardial restraint.
Patients with HFpEF were categorized into stages of AF progression: 181 (65%) had no history of AF, 49 (18%) had paroxysmal AF, and 48 (17%) had permanent AF. Patients with permanent AF were more congested with greater pulmonary vascular disease and lower cardiac output. LA volumes increased, while LA compliance, LA reservoir strain, and right ventricular function decreased with increasing AF burden. The presence of permanent AF was characterized by a distinct pathophysiology, with greater total heart volume caused by atrial dilatation, leading to elevated filling pressures through heightened pericardial restraint. Survival decreased with increasing AF burden. Ten-year progression to permanent AF was common, particularly in paroxysmal AF (52%), and the likelihood of AF progression increased with higher AF stage, poorer LA compliance, and lower LA strain.
LA compliance and mechanics progressively decline with increasing AF burden in HFpEF, increasing risk for new onset AF and progressive AF. These changes promote development of a unique phenotype of HFpEF characterized by heightened ventricular interaction, right heart failure, and worsening pulmonary vascular disease. Further study is required to identify therapeutic interventions targeting LA myopathy to improve outcomes in HFpEF.
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