Applications of Left Atrial Strain in Cardiovascular Disease: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Evidence

Abstract

Although left atrial (LA) function is of major clinical importance in cardiovascular diseases, traditional indicators such as LA volume struggle to promptly reflect functional changes. In recent years, the emerging technique of left atrial strain (LAS) has garnered widespread attention. As a quantitative metric based on speckle tracking echocardiography, LAS can detect subtle functional abnormalities in the LA myocardium at an early stage and independently assess atrial reservoir, conduit, and contraction functions beyond volume changes. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated the significant clinical utility of LAS across multiple cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, valvular heart disease, and coronary artery disease. Furthermore, LAS exhibits prognostic value in cardiomyopathies and cancer therapy–related cardiotoxicity. This review summarizes recent advances in LAS across various cardiovascular diseases, objectively evaluates its clinical application prospects and limitations, and outlines future research directions.