correlations between three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived left atrial functional parameters and aortic stiffness in healthy subjects – results from the magyar-healthy study

left atrial (la) distension has been demonstrated to be linked with aortic stiffness in different patient populations. three-dimensional (3d) speckle-tracking echocardiography (ste) seems to be a promising tool for volumetric and functional evaluation of the la. the aim of the present study was to determine whether correlations exist between 3dste-derived la volume-based and strain parameters characterizing all phasic functions of the la and echocardiographic aortic elastic properties in healthy subjects. the study included 19 healthy volunteers (mean age: 37.9 ± 11.4 years, 11 men) who had undergone complete two-dimensional (2d) doppler transthoracic echocardiography extended with the assessment of aortic elastic properties and 3dste. results: none of la volumes correlated with echocardiographic aortic elastic properties. active atrial stroke volume correlated with aortic stiffness index (asi, r = 0.45, p = 0.05). none of other volume-based functional properties significantly correlated with aortic stiffness parameters. global peak 3d strain correlated with aortic strain (r = –0.46, p = 0.05). global radial pre-atrial contraction strain correlated with asi (r = –0.49, p = 0.04) and as (r = –0.50, p = 0.04). conclusions: correlations exist between 3dste-derived la functional parameters and eschocardiographic aortic elastic properties in healthy subjects.