Left Atrium Strain as a Diagnostic Measure for Diastolic Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate if left atrial strain (LAS) can be utilized as a reliable diagnostic indicator for the existence and severity of diastolic dysfunction (DD).Materials and Methods: A careful search was conducted of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases for published research up to August 30, 2022. Two independent researchers independently reviewed all studies using the inclusion criteria and extracted the data in a data extraction file. Any inconsistencies were settled by consensus or discussion with a third author. The meta-analysis was carried out using a statistical program.Results: A total of seven articles consisting of 2106 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of LAS in diagnosing DD were 78% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 69%-86%) and 76% (95% CI = 72%-79%). The corresponding positive likelihood ratio was 3.3 (95% CI = 2.5-4.1), and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.27 (95% CI = 0.18-0.43).Conclusion: The LAS, independent from left atrium (LA) size/volume, demonstrated a good sensitivity and specificity, in DD evaluation and might be a relevant metric to be considered in suspected patient cases.