Left atrial functional characteristics using speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Objective: To investigate the functional characteristics of the left atrium using speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 46 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and 33 control subjects without cardiovascular disease. All participants underwent evaluation for clinical symptoms, medical history, physical examination, electrocardiography, and echocardiography, including speckle tracking echocardiography to assess left atrial function. Results: From June 2023 to September 2025, 46 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation were enrolled in the study, alongside 33 control subjects with comparable age, BMI, and heart rate. The results demonstrated that patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation had significantly reduced left atrial diameter on 2D, left atrial volume index (LAVi), reservoir function (LASr), conduit function (LAScd), and contraction function (LASct) compared to the control group (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in left atrial size and function among atrial fibrillation patients based on heart failure status. A trend toward lower LASr and LASct was observed in the atrial fibrillation patients who experienced stroke, howerver, the small number of stroke events limited the statistical power and precluded robust statistical comparisons. LAScd was decreased in atrial fibrillation patients aged 65 years. Conclusion: Left atrial reservoir, conduit, and contraction functions are all significantly reduced on speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.