Similarities and Differences between Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Left and Right Atrial Volumes and Volume-Based Functional Properties in the Same Healthy Adults—A Detailed Analysis from the MAGYAR-Healthy Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: It would be important to know what happens to the volume and volume-based functional properties of one atrium if the size of the other atrium is larger or smaller than the average. Therefore, the present study aimed to perform three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE)-derived quantification of left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) volumes and volume-based functional properties to examine these associations in healthy adults with mean and lower or higher than mean atrial volumes. Materials and Methods: The present study consisted of 179 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 32.3 ± 12.3 years (92 males). Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived LA and RA volumes and volume-based functional properties were determined in all cases. Results: When different LA or RA volume groups were evaluated, both LA and RA showed the same pattern of volume changes in all phases of atrial function with higher LA or RA volumes. In case of low and mean LA volumes, RA volumes were higher compared to their LA counterpart. In case of mean and high RA volumes, RA volumes proved to be higher as well. In case of mean LA or RA volumes, differences between LA and RA stroke volumes (SVs) could not be detected, but all atrial emptying fractions (EFs) were lower for RA than for LA. Some differences were detected in counterpart LA/RA total, passive, and active atrial SVs and EFs values in the presence of lower/higher than mean LA/RA volume. Conclusions: In case of mean LA or RA volumes, RA volumes are higher compared to their LA counterpart, LA-SVs and RA-SVs are similar, but atrial EFs are lower for RA than for LA. If lower/higher than mean LA or RA volumes are present, some differences in patterns of changes in counterpart atrial volumes—SVs and EFs—could be detected.