Objectives: The study aimed to compare atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD), apical 4-chamber longitudinal strain (4C-LS), echocardiographic changes and blood parameters in patients with COPD and control group. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in February and July 2018. The study included 90 (43 females, 47 males) patients with acute COPD exacerbation (Group 1), 92 (19 females, 73 males) stable COPD out-patients (Group 2) and 79 (43 females, 36 males) control group patients (Group 3). Demographic features, atrial conduction times, longitudinal strains, systolic-diastolic functions of right-left heart and blood parameters were compared. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software. Results: Basal anterolateral, mid anterolateral, apicolateral, apex, apical septal, mid inferoseptal, basal inferoseptal and 4C-LS were lower in Group 1. RV basal and mid diameters, Amax, Aa, TRV, SPAP, Emax mitral, Ea mitral, Ea/Aa mitral, Aa septum and heart rate were significantly higher and RV vertical diameter, TAPSE, Emax/Amax, Ea/Aa, end-diastolic diameter, LVEF, Ea septum, Ea/Aa septum were significantly lower in Group 1. Lateral/mitral AEMD, lateral/tricuspid AEMD and septal AEMD were higher in Group 1 compared to other groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Right-left ventricular systolic-diastolic functions were impaired in patients with acute COPD exacerbation. In these patients, longitudinal strain rates were lower and AEMD was prolonged. Keywords: Atrial electromechanical delay; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; strain
Corresponding Author: Sema Avci