Diagnostic utility of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in detecting subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with alcohol-related disorders

Background: Alcohol-related disorders affect 4.5–7.8% of Chinese adults and are known to precipitate alcoholic cardiomyopathy; nevertheless, conventional left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) often remains within the normal range in early disease, so a more sensitive marker of incipient systolic injury is needed. This study aims to quantify the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) for detecting sub-clinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with alcohol-related disorders. Methods: Consecutive 50 in-patients (100% male, age 47.21±4.57 years) fulfilling diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for alcohol-related disorder and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. All subjects underwent the same Philips EPIQ-7C scan (frame-rate ≥60 Hz). Global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial strain (GRS) together with their systolic strain rates were measured off-line (using advanced cardiac mechanics quantification analysis Software, aCMQ software). Conventional Simpson-derived left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and ejection fraction were also obtained. Between-group comparisons used unpaired t-test; associations were assessed with Pearson correlation. Results: Compared with control group, patients with alcohol-related disorders showed higher (less negative) GLS (−13.5%±2.1% vs. −18.2%±2.5%, P