Methods and results.
A total of 126 patients with asymptomatic sAR were included. Conventional echocardiographic systolic and diastolic function parameters were assessed. LA auto-strain analysis was performed in a subgroup of 57 patients. During a mean follow up of 33±19 months, 25 (19,8%) patients reached the combined end-point. Univariate analysis showed that LV volumes, LVEF, E wave, E/e’ ratio, LA volume and LA reservoir strain (LASr) were significant predictors of events. Multivariate model 1 that tested all echocardiographic variables statistically significant in the univariate model showed that LVEDV [HR=1,02;95% CI:1,01-1,03 (p<0,001)] and E/e’ ratio [HR=1,12;95% CI:1,03-1,23 (p=0,01)] were significant predictors of events. In the subgroup of patients with LA auto-strain analyzed, a second multivariate model including the previous significant variables for the first model as well as LASr, showed that LVEDV [HR=1,05;95% CI:1,01-1,08 (p=0,016)] and LASr [HR=0,8;95% CI:0,65-0,98 (p<0,035)] were the most significant predictors of cardiovascular events.