Predictive value of total atrial conduction time estimated with tissue Doppler imaging for the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation after acute myocardial infarction

Patients who develop new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) show an increased risk for adverse events and mortality during follow-up. Recently, a novel noninvasive echocardiographic method has been validated for the estimation of total atrial activation time using tissue Doppler imaging of the atria (PA-TDI duration). PA-TDI duration has shown to be independently predictive of new-onset AF. However, whether PA-TDI duration provides predictive value for new-onset AF in patients after AMI has not been evaluated. Consecutive patients admitted with AMIs and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention underwent echocardiography <48 hours after admission. All patients were followed at the outpatient clinic for > or =1 year. During follow-up, 12-lead electrocardiography and Holter monitoring were performed regularly, and the development of new-onset AF was noted. Baseline echocardiography was performed to assess left ventricular and left atrial (LA) function. LA performance was quantified with LA volumes, function, and PA-TDI duration. A total of 613 patients were evaluated. LA maximal volume (hazard ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.11), the total LA ejection fraction (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 0.99) and PA-TDI duration (hazard ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.06) were univariate predictors of new-onset AF. After multivariate analysis, LA maximal volume and PA-TDI duration independently predicted new-onset AF. Furthermore, PA-TDI duration provided incremental prognostic value to traditional clinical and echocardiographic parameters for the prediction of new-onset AF. In conclusion, PA-TDI duration is a simple measurement that provides important value for the prediction of new-onset AF in patients after AMI.