Echocardiography findings of right ventricle in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background: For atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, echocardiography is crucial for noninvasive RV anatomy and function evaluation. It accurately assesses RV dilatation, systolic dysfunction, and wall motion anomalies, which are linked to poor clinical outcomes. Comprehensive echocardiography reveals AF-related cardiac remodeling and functional impairment. Objective: To assess right ventricular echocardiography in atrial fibrillation patients. Methods: This June 2022-March 2023 cross-sectional research was undertaken at the University of Baghdad with Medical City. Adults with atrial fibrillation visiting cardiology clinics were included. A consistent protocol was used for transthoracic echocardiography on all individuals. Data on demographics, clinical features, and echocardiography were recorded. Comparative analyses examined gender, age, and comorbidities, whereas descriptive statistics summarized the results. Results: The study included 90 patients with atrial fibrillation, with a mean age of 50.8 years; females constituted 53.3% of the sample. Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (50.0%). AF patients demonstrated increased left atrial dimension and right atrial length and width, along with significantly reduced RV systolic function as indicated by lower S′ values. Other echocardiographic parameters, including ejection fraction and several ventricular dimensions and areas, did not significantly deviate from standard reference values. Higher body weight was observed among AF patients, and a significant association was identified between AF and reduced RV S′ values. Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation predominantly affects middle-aged females and is commonly associated with hypertension and increased body weight, with a cutoff value of 75.5 kg. Echocardiographic findings in AF patients reveal atrial enlargement and impaired right ventricular systolic function, underscoring the importance of routine RV assessment in this population.