Prognostic value of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with suspected ischemic heart disease

Objectives: To determine the prognostic value of myocardial strain by two- dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in the evolution of patients with suspected ischemic heart disease. Method: An analytical prospective longitudinal study was carried out with 51 patients, who underwent global longitudinal strain assessment by two- dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, and coronary angiography at CIMEQ between 2016 and 2018. Major cardiac adverse events (myocardial infarction, cardiac and non- cardiac cause of death, cerebrovascular disease, and need for new revascularization) were followed. Results: The 70.6% of patients were male, the 81.4% were older than 50 years old, and the 81.4% were smokers. The 65.0% of patients had significant coronary artery disease and the 55.0% underwent myocardial revascularization. There were four deaths (7.8%) and one non- fatal myocardial infarction (2.0%). Patients with global longitudinal strain = -15% (in absolute or modular values) had a higher frequency of major adverse cardiovascular events (p=0.02). Conclusions: Global longitudinal strain by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography could not predict the presence of coronary artery disease, but it did predict major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with significant coronary artery disease.