Persistent Atrial Myopathy Despite Ventricular Recovery: Prognostic Significance of Discordant LV-LA Strain Patterns in HFrEF.

Abstract

Aims: Assessment of treatment response in HFrEF has largely relied on left ventricular (LV)-centric parameters, yet the left atrium (LA) modulates LV filling and reflects the cumulative hemodynamic burden. Whether discordant recovery between LV and LA function carries distinct prognostic implications in patients treated with ARNI-based therapy remains unknown.

Methods and results: From the multicentre STRATS-HF-ARNI registry, 1,182 patients with HFrEF who underwent serial echocardiography at baseline and one-year follow-up were included. Patients were classified according to the change in LVGLS and LASr at one year: Group A, concordant recovery (57.4%); Group B, discordant atrial non-recovery (11.2%); Group C, discordant ventricular non-recovery (15.6%); and Group D, concordant non-recovery (16.0%). Outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and HF hospitalization. Despite achieving LV functional improvement, Group B exhibited persistent LASr deterioration, accompanied by less favourable hemodynamic trajectories than Group A. On multivariable Cox regression, Group B had significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.60-7.79) and cardiovascular mortality (aHR 5.68, 95% CI 1.91-16.92), comparable to Group D. Group C demonstrated higher HF hospitalization risk (aHR 2.25, 95% CI 1.31-3.86). The adverse prognostic impact of discordant atrial non-recovery was consistently observed across subgroups stratified by baseline LVGLS and LASr levels.

Conclusion: In HFrEF patients treated with ARNI-based therapy, persistent LA dysfunction despite LV functional improvement identifies a high-risk phenotype comparable to concordant non-recovery. These findings suggest that concurrent assessment of LV and LA strain may provide incremental prognostic value beyond LV-centric metrics alone.