Left heart function evaluation of patients with essential hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging combined with real-time three-dimensional ultrasound imaging.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the value of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) combined with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in evaluating left heart function in patients with combined ETH and PAF.
METHODS: A prospective study was designed, and the research period was from January 2017 to January 2020. A PAF observation group comprised of patients with ETH and PAF, a PAF control group of patients with ETH but without PAF, and a healthy volunteer group referred to as the healthy group, each comprised of 50 patients was established. All patients underwent routine ultrasound imaging examination using 2D-STI and RT-3DE. The interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left and right atrioventricular diameter (LAD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (PWT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the mean left atrium peak strain (mSs, mSe, mSa), strain rate (mSRs, mSRe, mSRa), the left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left atrial total emptying volume (LATEV), the left atrial volume index (LAVI), left atrial total emptying fraction (LATEF), left atrium expansion index (LAEI), left atrium passive ejection fraction (LAPEF), and left atrial active ejection fraction (LAAEF) were calculated. Patients in the PAF observation group received telmisartan combined with rosuvastatin after diagnosis and 12- and 24-month-follow up visits were conducted. During these visits, 2D-STI combined with RT-3DE was used to evaluate cardiac function and each patient's blood pressure was monitored.
RESULTS: Patients in the PAF observation group had a significantly longer course of ETH than patients in the PAF control group (13.5±4.4 vs. 10.32±5.6, P=0.002). The comparison of routine 2D-STI and RT-3DE ultrasound indexes among the three groups also showed significant differences (P<0.01). During the 2-year follow-up period, the IVST, LAD, PWT, and LVEF of remaining patients significantly improved as treatment progressed (P<0.05). The LAVI, LATEF, and LAEI also improved significantly as the treatment progressed (P<0.05). After 12 months of treatment, the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation was 16.33% (8/45) and after 24 months this was 34.21% (13/38).
CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac function could be evaluated comprehensively by 2D-STI combined with RT-3DE in patients with ETH combined with PAF at initial diagnosis and follow-up. 2021 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Essential hypertension (ETH) is a commonly encountered clinical condition worldwide (1). A 2016 study (2) published in ‘The Lancet’ showed that there were 594 million ETH patients worldwide in 1975, and this had increased to 1.1 billion in 2015. ETH is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (3) and may also be associated with functional damage to organs such as the heart and brain (3,4). Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is a common clinical disorder. Many small reentrant rings caused by the atrium-dominant reentrant ring cause the cardiac rhythm disorders of PAF patients (5). There is a high incidence of ETH in patients with PAF and when combined, there is an increased risk of arterial embolism, heart failure, secondary stroke complications, and death (5-7).

At present, there are few studies focusing on cardiac function in patients with ETH combined with PAF. Ultrasonography is the most used method for evaluating cardiac function and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) has been widely used in the evaluation of cardiovascular disease. As a relatively new method to evaluate cardiac function, 2D-STI not only eliminates the dependence of tissue Doppler on the angle of the sound beam but is also not interfered with by the traction of the surrounding myocardium and heart movement (8,9). However, the spatial conformation of the atria and ventricles are not a regular geometric shape (10) and the results of two-dimensional Doppler ultrasound measurement are prone to errors (11). Real-time three-dimensional (RT-3DE) ultrasound does not need to assume the geometry of the heart (12) and can display the heart space structure, movement law. And adjacent relationship as well as measuring the volume of the heart in real time (13,14). Compared with the left atrial volume measured by MRI and CT, RT-3DE measurement has better repeatability and inter observer repeatability. Therefore, combined 2D-STI and RT-3DE can more comprehensively evaluate changes to cardiac structure and function.

In this study, 2D-STI combined with RT-3DE was used to evaluate cardiac function in patients with ETH combined with PAF, and the changes of cardiac function in the 24 months following treatment were observed. The aim was to provide a new method for disease assessment and curative effect evaluation in patients with ETH combined with PAF. We present the following article in accordance with the STROBE reporting checklist (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-20-3577).

Methods

Patients

This prospective study was conducted from January 2017 to January 2020. A total of 150 cases were enrolled including 50 with ETH combined with PAF in the PAF observation group, 50 with ETH but not with PAF in the PAF control group, and 50 healthy volunteers in the healthy group. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (I) all subjects were followed up for 24 months after joining the study; (II) patients in the PAF observation group and PAF control group all met the clinical diagnosis of ETH (15,16); (III) patients in the PAF observation group were in compliance with the clinical diagnosis; (IV) after physical examination, the patients in Healthy group were completely healthy; (V) the age range was 50–65 years old. The exclusion criteria were: (I) patients with respiratory and digestive function, blood circulation and serious hematological diseases, and patients with hyperthyroidism, malignant tumors, disorders of glucose metabolism or coronary atherosclerosis, and patients with valvular diseases or other heart diseases; (II) patients who were unable to complete the study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). The study was approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee of The Central Hospital of Wuhan (No. CHW201609). All participating patients had been informed of its content and signed informed consent.

Image examination

Instrument

A Philips iE Elite color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic equipment, equipped with 2D phased array probe s5-1 (frequency 2.0–3.5 MHz), real-time three-dimensional probe x5-1 (frequency 1.0–3.0 MHz) was used.

Image acquisition

Patients were placed in the left decubitus position and instructed to breathe calmly. The ECG of the chest lead was synchronized and two-dimensional dynamic images of the left ventricular long axis, the apical four chamber heart, and the apical two chamber cardiac section collected. The left ventricular anteroposterior diameter (LAD) was measured in the left ventricle by long axis measurement and a clear apical four chamber image was obtained after the 3-dimensional X5-1 probe commenced. After adjusting the gain, contrast, brightness, and other factors to produce an appropriate left atrium image, the patient was asked to hold their breath at the end of a breath and “Full-volume” imaging was performed. The best full-volume three-dimensional images were collected for four consecutive cardiac cycles.

Image analysis

Using a QLAB workstation, the sampling points were placed in the atrium septum of the mitral annulus, left atrial side wall, and the left roof of the mitral annulus in the apical four chamber and apical two chamber heart images, respectively. The left atrial strain and strain rate curves were automatically analyzed in the aCMQ mode () and the left atrial systolic peak strain (Ss, Se, Sa) and peak strain rate (SRs, SRe, SRa) were measured in the left ventricular systolic phase, the early diastolic stage of left ventricle, and the late left ventricular diastolic function. The 2D mean peak strain (mSs, mSe, mSa) and strain rate (mSRs, mSRe, and mSRa) were calculated, and all parameters were measured 5 times (17).

Figure 1

Examples of image analysis in the QLAB workstation. (A) The left atrial strain and strain rate curves were automatically analyzed in the aCMQ mode. (B) After entering the 3DQAdvance mode, a reference point was drawn from the roof of the apical two-chamber view, and left atrial time-volume curve was automatically drawn.

Using the 3DQAdvance mode of the QLAB workstation, the left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial total emptying volume (LATEV) were analyzed at the end of the systolic phase on the atrial septum and lateral wall at the apical four chamber and two chamber section mitral annulus. A reference point was drawn from the roof of the apical two-chamber view and left atrial time-volume curve was automatically drawn (). The left atrial volume at each time was measured and normalized to the left atrial volume index through the body surface area and the left atrial maximum volume index (LAVImax) and end diastolic left atrial minimum volume index (LAVImin) were immediately measured before mitral valve opening. The left atrial systolic volume index (LAVIp) was measured by P wave front and the left atrial total ejection fraction (LATEF) and left atrial active ejection fraction (LAAEF) were calculated (18):

Medical treatment

Patients in the PAF observation group received routine antiarrhythmic treatment including amlodipine, felodipine and nifedipine. This combination therapy has been reported in recent years (19-21). On this basis, rosuvastatin (Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets, Zhejiang Hai Zheng pharmaceutical Limited by Share Ltd., Chinese medicine: H20143337) treatment, 5 mg, QD, po and telmisartan (Mikacin, Shanghai, Imported Drug Registration Certificate No. H20090416, specifications: 80 mg/tablets) treatment, oral, 1 times/d, 30–80 mg were initiated. If a patient chose to continue in the study their condition was observed after each 12 months of continuous treatment.

Follow-up and data collection

An electronic summary table to register the patient's treatment information and observation index data was established. When the patient was hospitalized, we conducted a full communication study emphasizing the necessity of follow-up for 24 months after the image examination. The medical records of all patients were recorded in detail.

Outcome measures

Primary outcome

These were the index measurements in the PAF observation group (patients in this group were treated with telmisartan combined with rosuvastatin commenced); blood pressure, IVST, LAD, PWT, LVEF, LATEF, LAEI, mSs, mSe, mSRs, and mSRe. The index measurements were recorded at base, 12 months, and 24 months after treatment.

Secondary outcomes

These were the differences in the following ultrasound index measurements in each group; IVST, LAD, PWT,LVM, LVMI, LVEF, LATEV, LAVI, LAAEF, LATEF, mSs, mSe, mSa, mSRs, mSRe, and mSRa.

Statistical analysis

SPSS 24.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. The count data was represented by examples (percent) (n (%)); the theoretical number T ≥5 and the total sample size n ≥40 using Pearson χ test; the theoretical number T <5 but T ≥1 and n ≥40 using the continuous correction of χ test; and the theoretical number T <1 or n <40, using Fisher's exact test. The measurement data obeying normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation () indicating the comparison between groups was performed with an independent sample t test, and the comparison within a group was performed with a paired sample t test. Repeated measurement analysis of variance was used to compare multiple sets of measurement data and data that did not obey the normal distribution were expressed as P50 (P25, P75) and the Mann-Whitney U test used for comparison. The Mann-Whitney U test was also used for the difference in distribution of grade data and both levels of α=0.05 were used for the test level. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

Baseline

Compared with patients in the PAF control group, those in the PAF observation group had a significantly longer course of ETH (13.5±4.4 vs. 10.32±5.6, P=0.002) and the blood pressure of patients in PAF control and PAF observation groups was significantly higher than that in the healthy group (P<0.001). The basic clinical data of all 150 patients is shown in .

Table 1

Baseline data of the 150 objects

Groups	Cases	Age (years)	Gender [%]		Body surface area (cm3)	Heart rate (beats/min)	Contractive pressure (mmHg)	Diastolic pressure (mmHg)	Duration of ETH (years)	Duration of PAF (months)
			Male	Female
PAF observation group	50	69.21±7.9	31 [62]	19 [38]	1.82±0.11	65.31±16.16	133.68±12.37###	80.55±10.38###	13.5±4.4	9.24±4.62
PAF control group	50	68.54±8.52	33 [66]	17 [34]	1.81±0.14	67.87±12.78	128.35±11.63###	79.32±8.28###	–	–
Healthy group	50	67.73±9.21	30 [60]	20 [40]	1.77±0.16	73.24±10.55	110.54±10.92	74.71±7.96	–	–
F/χ2/t test	–	0.531	0.188		1.215	1.028	0.853	0.215	3.157	–
P value	–	0.442	0.725		0.176	0.191	0.019*	0.022*	0.002**	–

Comparison between PAF observation group and PAF control group, *P<0.05, **P<0.01. Compared with Healthy group, ###P<0.001. PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Comparison of ultrasound indexes of the three groups

As shown in , the comparison of IVST, LAD, PWT, and LVEF among the three groups showed significant differences (P<0.01). Compared with the healthy group, patients in the PAF control and PAF observation groups had significantly higher IVST, LAD, PWT (P<0.001), and significantly lower LVEF (P<0.001). PAF control group patients had significantly higher IVST, LAD and lower PWT than the PAF observation group (P<0.05).

Table 2

Data of routine ultrasound examination in the 150 objects

Groups	Cases	IVST (mm)	LAD (mm)	PWT (mm)	LVEF (%)
PAF observation group	50	13.21±1.82###△△	47.31±7.63###△△△	12.15±1.65###△	54.45±6.91###
PAF control group	50	12.18±1.64###	41.25±4.92###	11.43±1.48###	56.53±5.67###
Healthy group	50	10.56±2.06	32.41±1.21	9.86±1.21	61.75±4.67
F test	–	6.258	11.625	17.483	7.982
P value	–	0.004**	<0.001***	<0.001***	0.002**

Comparison among PAF observation group, PAF control group, and healthy group, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. Compared with healthy group, ###P<0.001. Compared with PAF control group, △P<0.05, △△P<0.01, △△△P<0.001. IVST, interventricular septal thickness; LAD, left atrial diameter; PWT, posterior wall thickness; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

As shown in , comparison of the mean left atrium peak strain and mean left atrium peak strain rates among the three groups also showed significant differences (P<0.01). Compared with the healthy group, the PAF control and PAF observation groups had significantly lower mSs, mSe, mSa, and mSRs (P<0.001), and significantly higher mSRe and mSRa (P<0.001). The mSe and mSRs of patients in the PAF observation group were significantly lower than the PAF control group (P<0.001), while the mSRa was significantly higher (P<0.001).

Table 3

Data of 2D-STI examination in the 150 patients

Group	Cases	Mean left atrium peak strain (%)				Mean left atrium peak strain rate (/s)
		mSs	mSe	mSa		mSRs	mSRe	mSRa
PAF observation group	50	14.15±5.95###△△△	6.35±3.92###△△△	–		1.21±0.38###△△△	−1.25±0.22###△△△	–
PAF control group	50	25.31±4.28###	11.32±3.45###	13.25±2.22###		1.92±0.29###	−1.80±0.51###	−2.44±0.48###
Healthy group	50	36.86±4.63	20.85±3.76	15.72±2.71		2.55±0.43	−2.45±0.72	−2.84±0.65
F/t test	–	32.756	23.526	4.986		15.238	17.329	3.500
P value	–	<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.001***		<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.001***

Comparison among PAF observation group, PAF control group, and healthy group, ***P<0.001. Compared with healthy group, ###P<0.001. Compared with PAF control group, △△△P<0.001. 2D-STI, two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging; PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

As shown in , compared with the healthy group, the PAF observation and PAF control groups had a significantly higher LAVI and significantly lower LATEF and LAEI (P<0.001).

Table 4

Data of RT-3DE examination in the 150 patients

Group	Cases	LAVImax (mL/m2)	LAVImin (mL/m2)	LAVIp (mL/m2)	LATEF (%)	LAEI (%)	LAPEF (%)	LAAEF (%)
PAF observation group	50	44.74±10.12###△△△	31.88±10.12###△△△	–	0.29±0.78###△△△	0.44±0.16###△△△	–	–
PAF control group	50	32.8±5.95###	17.55±6.62###	24.32±4.62	0.38±0.32###	0.89±0.25###	0.25±0.08	0.30±0.06
Healthy group	50	25.65±5.92	11.68±3.35	16.72±4.16	0.54±0.10	1.25±0.34	0.34±0.11	0.31±0.09
F/t test	–	25.828	32.743	8.644	10.927	20.603	4.678	0.657
P value	–	<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.001***	0.515

Comparison among PAF observation group, PAF control group, and healthy group, ***P<0.001. Compared with healthy group, ###P<0.001. Compared with PAF control group, △△△P<0.001. RT-3DE, real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography; LAVI, left atrial volume index; LATEF, left atrium total ejection fraction; LAEI, left atrium expansion index; LAPEF, left atrium passive ejection fraction; LAAEF, left atrium active ejection fraction; PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Changes of ultrasound indexes of patients in the PAF observation group before and after treatment

During the 2-year follow-up, a total of 12 patients left the study including five in the first and seven in the second years.

When compared with measurements obtained before treatment commenced, those obtained both at the 12- and 24-month follow ups showed significant and progressive improvement.

shows progressive improvement in the IVST, LAD, PWT, and LVEF and in the mean left atrium peak strain and mean peak left atrium strain rate. shows the LAVI was significantly lower (P<0.05) and LATEF and LAEI were significantly higher (P<0.05) across the 24 months.

Table 5

Data change of routine ultrasound examination of the patients in PAF observation group

Time	Cases	IVST (mm)	LAD (mm)	PWT (mm)	LVEF (%)
Before treatment	50	13.21±1.82	47.31±7.63	12.15±1.65	54.45±6.91
Treated for 12 months	45	12.88±1.55###	43.35±5.87##	11.49±1.52#	57.25±5.58#
Treated for 24 months	38	11.45±1.47###△△△	39.85±4.33###△△	10.36±1.31###△△	60.23±4.86###△△
F test	–	5.897	7.112	5.314	7.035
P value	–	0.009**	0.005**	0.021*	0.006**

Comparison among before treatment, treated for 12 months and treated for 24 months, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. Compared with before treatment, #P<0.05, ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001. Compared with treated for 12 months, △△P<0.01, △△△P<0.001. PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; IVST, interventricular septal thickness; LAD, left atrial diameter; PWT, posterior wall thickness; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction.

Table 6

Data change of 2D-STI examination of the patients in PAF observation group

Time	Cases	Mean left atrium peak strain (%)			Mean peak left atrium strain rate (/s)
		mSs	mSe		mSRs	mSRe
Before treatment	50	14.15±5.95	6.35±3.92		1.21±0.38	−1.25±0.22
Treated for 12 months	45	20.75±5.33###	9.25±3.62###		1.73±0.31###	−1.73±0.34###
Treated for 24 months	38	29.59±4.97###△△△	14.58±3.82###△△△		1.99±0.36###△△△	−2.02±0.54###△△
F test	–	28.592	25.492		19.557	14.328
P value	–	<0.001***	<0.001***		<0.001***	<0.001***

Comparison among before treatment, treated for 12 months and treated for 24 months, ***P<0.001. Compared with before treatment, ###P<0.001. Compared with treated for 12 months, △△P<0.01, △△△P<0.001. 2D-STI, two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging; PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Table 7

Data change of RT-3DE examination of the patients in PAF observation group

Group	Cases	LAVImax (mL/m2)	LAVImin (mL/m2)	LATEF (%)	LAEI (%)
Before treatment	50	44.74±10.12	31.88±10.12	0.29±0.78	0.44±0.16
Treated for 12 months	45	39.27±7.33###	24.36±8.76###	0.34±0.44	0.78±0.27###
Treated for 24 months	38	31.59±5.58###△△△	17.33±5.42###△△△	0.46±0.15###△	1.08±0.31###△△△
F test	–	17.365	15.828	9.886	8.785
P value	–	<0.001***	<0.001***	<0.01**	<0.01**

Comparison among before treatment, treated for 12 months and treated for 24 months, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. Compared with before treatment, ###P<0.001. Compared with treated for 12 months, △P<0.05, △△△P<0.001. RT-3DE, real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography; PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Blood pressure and atrial fibrillation rate of patients in the PAF observation group during follow-up

As shown in , the contractive pressure and diastolic pressure of patients after 24 months of treatment were significantly reduced compared with those before and after 12 months of treatment (P<0.01). After 12 months of treatment, the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation was 16.33% (8/45) and after 24 months this was 34.21% (13/38).

Table 8

Blood pressure and atrial fibrillation rate of the patients in PAF observation group during follow-up

Time	Cases	Blood pressure (mmHg)			Atrial fibrillation
		Contractive pressure	Diastolic pressure		Number (n)	Percentage (%)
Before treatment	50	133.68±12.37	80.55±10.38		–	–
Treated for 12 months	45	120.54±10.35###	76.46±9.82		8	16.33
Treated for 24 months	38	114.33±9.54###△△	74.25±9.52##		13	34.21
F test	–	5.897	7.112		–
P value	–	0.009**	0.005**		–

Comparison among before treatment, treated for 12 months and treated for 24 months, **P<0.01. Compared with before treatment, ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001. Compared with treated for 12 months, △△P<0.01. PAF, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Discussion

Cardiac insufficiency during diastole or systole in patients with ETH causes both ventricular and atrial pressures to change (22) resulting in the level of angiotensin-converting enzyme in atrial tissue to significantly increase and the density of angiotensin receptors to increase (23). Mediated by angiotensin receptor type I, calcium overload in myocardial cells increases, which in turn triggers atrial fibrillation. At the same time, angiotensin receptors can also influence angiotensin type I receptors causing atrial muscle hypertrophy. The accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins leads to obvious fibrosis of the atria, which affects conduction function and triggers atrial remodeling (22,23).

In this study, atrial remodeling and decreased cardiac function in ETH combined with PAF patients were confirmed using 2D-STI and RT-3DE. By measuring the strain and strain rate of local atrial muscle, 2D-STI quantitative analysis could reflect left atrium remodeling (24) and RT-3DE could display the spatial structure of the heart in real time and three-dimensionally, the law of motion and its neighboring relationship, and heart volume in real time (25). Atas et al. (26) showed that the combined application of 2D-STI and RT-3DE could improve the accuracy of left atrial function evaluation. The three functions of the left atrium and related indicators (27,28) are listed below:

Function of ‘storage’: storing the blood returning from the pulmonary vein (left ventricular systole). LAVmax, LAVmin, LATEF, LAEI, mSs, and mSRs were used to evaluate this function.

Function of ‘transport’: transporting blood in the pulmonary vein to the left ventricle (early left ventricular diastole). LAPEF, mSe, and mSRe were used to evaluate this function.

Function of ‘Auxiliary Pump’: contracting the left atrial myocardium actively to increase filling of the left ventricle by 20–30% (late diastole of the left ventricle). LAAEF, mSa, and mSRa were used to evaluate this function.

Our results showed that the ‘storage’ and ‘transport’ functions of the left atrium of patients with ETH without PAF were reduced at the initial assessment. The ‘storage’ and ‘transport’ functions of the left atrium of patients with ETH combined with PAF were also reduced, and the auxiliary pump function disappeared. This may be because the ETH patients in this study were all old and the level of angiotensin-converting enzyme in the atrial tissue was significantly increased to trigger atrial remodeling. The increasing residual blood volume in the left atrium caused it to relax and expand, leading to a decrease in the function of ‘storage’ (29). At the same time, the left atrial passive emptying volume of the left atrium is reduced, causing ‘transport’ dysfunction. When PAF occurs in patients with ETH, the atrial muscle loses its normal contractile function due to uncoordinated atrial electrophysiological activities, which leads to the disappearance of left atrial auxiliary pump function and reduction of left atrial blood output, further leading to an increase in left atrial volume load and reduction in its storage function (29,30). Changes to these three functions affect each other and further cause left atrial dysfunction in patients with ETH combined with PAF.

All patients with ETH combined with PAF in this study received telmisartan combined with rosuvastatin calcium and 2D-STI and RT-3DE technology were used to evaluate their therapeutic effect. During the 2-year follow-up, we found that atrial remodeling in patients with ETH combined with PAF had a significant reversal and cardiac function had been significantly restored. These patients still had atrial fibrillation after receiving the medication, but its frequency was low. Telmisartan is a new type of angiotensin II receptor blocker with a strong antihypertensive effect (31). It can effectively maintain balance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, it has a certain inhibitory effect on atrial remodeling and electrical remodeling. Angiotensin II receptor blockers play an important role in clinical blood pressure lowering treatment and telmisartan can also inhibit endogenous angiotensin. In addition, telmisartan can effectively prevent recurring atrial fibrillation. Several reasons have been forwarded to account for this effect (32,33). Firstly, telmisartan can selectively block angiotensin type I receptors, thereby reducing the phenomenon of atrial myocardial calcium overload, reducing the myocardial shortening caused by high-frequency electrical stimulation of atrial fibrillation, and reducing atrium myoelectric remodeling. Secondly, it has a certain inhibitory effect on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which can block the collagen proliferation and myocardial fibrosis caused by angiotensin type I receptors. A third possible mechanism pertains to the ability of telmisartan to activate angiotensin II receptors, thereby effectively exerting vasodilation, anti-proliferation, anti-fibrosis and regulating apoptosis which can protect the heart, reverse left atrium myocardial hypertrophy, and improve diastolic function and reduce atrial remodeling. Rosuvastatin calcium is a common statin medication which can competitively inhibit the endogenous cholesterol synthesis rate-limiting enzyme reductase, block the intracellular mevalonic acid metabolism pathway, reduce intracellular cholesterol synthesis, and regulate blood lipid levels effectively (34,35). Statins can also effectively stabilize plaques, regulate vascular endothelial function, and inhibit inflammation, oxidation, and the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby improving myocardial remodeling (36).

The limitations to this research are (I) there was no separate analysis software for the left atrium and (II) we did not set up a control group to explore the therapeutic effect of telmisartan combined with rosuvastatin calcium because of the small number of patients.

In summary, 2D-STI and RT-3DE technologies could accurately and comprehensively evaluate changes in atrial remodeling and cardiac function. In patients with ETH combined with PAF, the left atrial ‘storage’ and ‘transport’ functions were reduced, the ‘Auxiliary pump’ function disappeared, and the stiffness of the left atrium increased. Telmisartan combined with rosuvastatin calcium treatment could significantly reverse these changes.

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