Usefulness of left atrial emptying fraction to predict exercise capacity in patients with normal systolic left ventricular function and without myocardial ischemia.

The association of left atrial volume at rest and the left atrial emptying fraction with exercise capacity during stress echocardiography was examined in patients with normal left ventricular function and without ischemia. The left atrial emptying fraction, along with body mass index, was found to be an independent predictor of poor exercise capacity (<5 METs).