Abstract
Background: Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is a highly
prevalent arrhythmia where loss of synchronized atrial contraction
increases the risk of intracardiac thrombus particularly within the left
atrial appendage (LAA). Anticoagulation is the mainstay of stroke
prevention based on the CHA2DS2-VASc score; however, it does not account
for LAA structural characteristics. Methods: The research
comprises a retrospective matched case-control study of 196 subjects
with NVAF who underwent transesophageal echo (TEE). The control group,
without thrombus (n=117), was selected from two different groups, both
pools had: NVAF and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 3. One group underwent
screening TEE prior to Watchman closure device placement from January
2015 to December 2019 (n=74) the second underwent TEE prior to
cardioversion from February to October 2014 (n=43). The study group,
with thrombus (n=79), included patients with NVAF, TEE study performed
between February 2014 and December 2020, and LAA thrombus. The
propensity score method was utilized to determine the matched controls
while accounting for confounding from prognostic variables resulting in
61 matched pairs included in the analysis data set. LAA ostial area (OA)
(calculated from orthogonal measurements 0, 90° or 45, 135°), LAA
maximal depth, and peak LAA outflow velocity were measured.
Results: Patient characteristics and TEE data were collected
(Table [I](#tbl-cap-0001)) and compared using the t-test or
chi-square analysis. We observed a lower LAA peak exit velocity in the
thrombus group as compared to the control group. Additionally, we found
that patients in the thrombus group had smaller LAA OA at 0 and 90
degrees, at 45 and 135 degrees, using largest diameter, as well as using
aggregate OA, and smaller maximum LAA depth compared to patients in the
control group. Candidate conditional logistic regression models for the
outcome of presence of thrombus were evaluated (Table
[II](#tbl-cap-0002)). Statistical results from the best-fitting
conditional regression model were calculated (Table
[III](#tbl-cap-0003)) showing a significant association between
aggregate OA and LAA exit velocity with presence of thrombus.
Conclusion: Utilizing LAA structural characteristics to predict
thrombus formation may help refine current cardioembolic stroke (CES)
risk estimation.