Central Role of Left Atrial Dynamics in Limiting Exercise Cardiac Output Increase and Oxygen Uptake in Heart Failure: Insights by Cardiopulmonary Imaging

Abstract

In HF, LA dynamics may play a key role in exercise CO increase due to an impaired forward (left ventricular filling) and backward (right ventricular to pulmonary circulation uncoupling) combination of mechanisms, irrespective of LVEF. The blunted LA strain and LA sra reserve during exercise are associated with a worse cardiopulmonary performance and outcome.