Are left atrial appendage flow velocities adequate surrogates of global left atrial function? A population-based transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial appendage (LAA) contraction velocities are used frequently as surrogates of global left atrial (LA) function, but the validity of this approach has not been confirmed.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess the relationship between LAA flow velocities and multiple global LA variables.

METHODS: The correlations between LAA contraction velocities and global LA variables (difference between maximal and minimal LA volumes, mitral inflow A velocity, atrial ejection force, mitral annulus late diastolic [a'] velocity, pulmonary vein atrial reversal velocity) were assessed in 349 subjects participating in the Stroke Prevention: Assessment of Risk in a Community study (age, 67 +/- 11 years; 53% men; all subjects in sinus rhythm), who were examined with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.

RESULTS: The correlations between LAA contraction velocities and multiple global LA variables were poor or nonsignificant. The best correlations, albeit weak, were between LAA velocities and mitral annulus a' velocities (r = 0.32 and r = 0.35 for correlations with septal and lateral annulus a' velocities, respectively, P <.001). Low LAA contraction velocities (lowest 10%, velocities <56 cm/s) were not sensitive in detecting low values (lowest 10%) of LA variables (sensitivity <0.2 for most LA variables). In a subgroup of subjects with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (< or =50%), the correlations between LAA velocities and LA variables were not apparently better than those in the total population. LAA velocities correlated negatively with LAA orifice diameter (r = -0.29, P =.002). The correlations between LAA velocities and global LA variables remained poor after correcting for LAA orifice size.

CONCLUSION: LAA contraction velocities correlate poorly with multiple LA variables. Therefore, LAA flow velocities should not be used as surrogates of global LA function.