OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore the reliability of echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function and determine their relationship with functional capacity (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class and 6-minute walk test [6MWT]) and the domains of a health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) questionnaire (Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey) in a cohort of ambulatory patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Forty-eight male veterans with persistent or permanent AF underwent clinical examination, echocardiography, and 6MWT, and filled out a Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey questionnaire at two visits 1 week apart. Pairwise correlation was performed to evaluate the reliability of echocardiographic parameters and multiple regression analyses to assess the association of these parameters with functional capacity and HR-QOL. RESULTS: E/e' average had the highest correlation between the two visits (coefficient: 0.87) and had a significant relationship with NYHA, 6MWT, and physical functioning domain of HR-QOL even after adjusting for confounding variables (odds of NYHA >1: OR 1.5, 95% CI, 1.2-1.9; 6MWT coefficient: -31 ± 9 ft; physical functioning score coefficient: -1.7 ± 0.7). CONCLUSION: Average E/e' is a reliable diastolic function parameter that also independently relates with functional capacity and HR-QOL in ambulatory patients with atrial fibrillation. Published by Mosby, Inc.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore the reliability of echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function and determine their relationship with functional capacity (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class and 6-minute walk test [6MWT]) and the domains of a health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) questionnaire (Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey) in a cohort of ambulatory patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Forty-eight male veterans with persistent or permanent AF underwent clinical examination, echocardiography, and 6MWT, and filled out a Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey questionnaire at two visits 1 week apart. Pairwise correlation was performed to evaluate the reliability of echocardiographic parameters and multiple regression analyses to assess the association of these parameters with functional capacity and HR-QOL. RESULTS: E/e' average had the highest correlation between the two visits (coefficient: 0.87) and had a significant relationship with NYHA, 6MWT, and physical functioning domain of HR-QOL even after adjusting for confounding variables (odds of NYHA >1: OR 1.5, 95% CI, 1.2-1.9; 6MWT coefficient: -31 ± 9 ft; physical functioning score coefficient: -1.7 ± 0.7). CONCLUSION: Average E/e' is a reliable diastolic function parameter that also independently relates with functional capacity and HR-QOL in ambulatory patients with atrial fibrillation. Published by Mosby, Inc.