Evaluation of the Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Left Atrial and Left Ventricular Function and Its Relationship with Changes in Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

BackgroundThe main aim of this study was to detect the possible early effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) function and relation to aortic stiffness in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MethodsFifty-four patients with AMI were enrolled in this study. Left atrial strain analysis was performed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. The deceleration time (DT) was measured by pulsed-wave Doppler. The ratio of E/e' to LA peak strain was used to estimate the LA stiffness (Stiffness(strain)) Aortic elasticity parameters were calculated using the formulas including aortic systolic and diastolic diameter with M-Mode echocardiography and blood pressure. Anterior wall aortic expansion velocity was measured by tissue Doppler imaging. ResultsLeft ventricle ejection fraction (EF) and LA functional parameters were significantly better in trained subjects. Also in training group, the LV diastolic functional parameters were better in CR group than the control group. Aortic elasticity parameters were better with CR. ConclusionsIn patients with CR, an increase in LA strain was correlated with increase in aortic strain and improved aortic distensibility, likely indicating favorable LA and aortic interactions with exercise training.