Background: Contribution of global and regional longitudinal strain (GLS) for clinical assessment of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is not well established. We sought to evaluate subclinical left ventricular dysfunction secondary to coronary artery disease (CAD) in HFpEF patients compared with hypertensive patients and age-matched healthy subjects. Material and methods: This was a retrospective study that included 148 patients (group 1 = 62 patients with HFpEF, group 2 = 46 hypertensive patients, and group 3 = 40 age-matched control subjects). Peak systolic segmental, regional (basal, mid, and apical), and global longitudinal strain were assessed for each study group using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Results: GLS values presented statistically significant differences between the three groups (p < 0.001); markedly increased values (more negative) were observed in the control group (-20.2 ± 1.4%) compared with HTN group values (-18.4 ± 3.0%, p = 0.031) and with HFpEF group values (-17.6 ± 2.3%, p < 0.001). The correlation between GLS values and HTN stages was significant, direct, and average (Spearman coefficient rho = 0.423, p < 0.001). GLS had the greatest ability to detect patients with HFpEF when HFpEF + CAD + HTN diastolic dysfunction (n = 30) + CON diastolic dysfunction (n = 2) from HFpEF + CAD + HTN + CON was analyzed. (optimal GLS limit of -19.35%, area under curve = 0.833, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Global longitudinal strain can be used for clinical assessment in differentiating coronary and hypertensive patients at higher risk for development of systolic dysfunction.
Keywords: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; hypertension; myocardial strain; speckle-tracking echocardiography.