Relationship between duration of atrial fibrillation and right heart structure remodeling as assessed by 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Tricuspid valve (TV) remodeling occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the affecting factor related to TV remodeling in AF remains to be elucidated. We sought to explore whether the AF persistence itself affects right heart remodeling. A total of 372 lone AF patients (234 paroxysmal AF [paroxAF] and 138 persistent AF [persAF]) who underwent 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) was retrospectively reviewed. The duration from first-detected episode of AF to the TEE exam date was defined as AF duration. PersAF patients had a larger TV area index (625.4 vs 719.0 mm2/m2; P < 0.001) and a higher right atrium area-to-right ventricle end-systolic area ratio (RA/RVESA ratio, 1.7 vs 1.9; P = 0.005) than paroxAF patients. The prevalence of AF-tricuspid regurgitation was higher in persAF than in paroxAF patients (1.3% vs 12.3%; P < 0.001). In persAF patients, AF duration was moderately correlated with TV diameter and 3D-TEE-derived TV annular area but not in paroxAF. On multivariable analysis, AF duration was independently associated with TV annular dilatation even after adjustment for RA/RVESA ratio and tricuspid regurgitation severity (β 0.37 [95% CI: 0.77–1.81]; P < 0.001). Additionally, AF duration with cutoff values of 20 months for predicting TV annular dilatation and 37 months for predicting RA/RVESA ratio > 2.1 had both high diagnostic accuracies among persAF patients (both P < 0.01). AF duration itself is independently associated with right heart remodeling in persAF but not in paroxAF, such as TV annular dilatation and predominant RA remodeling which may lead to subsequent TR progression and adverse outcomes. • Previous studies have suggested that increasing tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity is associated with worse survival and atrial fibrillation (AF) persisting itself is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes; hence it is important to prevent tricuspid valve (TV) remodeling and progression of atrial functional TR (AF-TR) to improve prognosis. • In this study, AF duration itself is one of independent determinants of TV annular dilatation only in patients with persistent AF, not in paroxysmal AF. • Significant TV annular dilatation (TV annular area index ≥840 mm2/m2) and predominant right atrial remodeling (right atrium area-to-right ventricle end-systolic area ratio > 2.1) has already initiated at AF duration of 20 months and 37 months, respectively. • Based on the relationship between AF duration and right heart remodeling to progress along the time sequence in this study, early rhythm control may be important in the management of AF patients to prevent right heart structure remodeling leading to the incidence of AF-TR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]