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S26 Abstracts Heart, Lung and Circulation2008;17S:S1–S209

ies have reported variable cardiac outcomes with thesepatients but few have quantified quality of life parame-ters. This study examines gender differences in qualityof life indices amongst patients with chest pain and nosignificant coronary artery disease.Methods and results: Patients undergoing angiography forthe evaluation of chest pain were invited to participate andcompleted health-related quality of life questionnairesincluding the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Seattle AnginaQuestionnaire (SAQ). Patients with non-obstructive coro-nary artery disease (angiographic coronary lesions <40%)were included and clinical details recorded. Of the 257patients with chest pain and non-obstructive coronaryartery disease, 56% were females. As females were olderthan males (60 ± 12 years vs. 53 ± 11 years, respectively,p < 0.001) further analyses were undertaken using age-adjusted data (see Table).Clinical feature Males Females p

Hypertension 51% 62% 0.063

Current smoker 27% 16% 0.036

SF-36 physical summary score 40 ± 10 36 ± 11 0.005

SF-36 mental summary score 40 ± 10 37 ± 11 0.036

SAQ: physical limitation 67 ± 21 55 ± 23 <0.001

SAQ: angina stability 48 ± 30 43 ± 34 0.247

SAQ: anginal frequency 68 ± 20 63 ± 23 0.082

SAQ: treatment satisfaction 89 ± 20 89 ± 11 1.00

SAQ: quality of life 47 ± 20 42 ± 23 0.082

observed in the general population (excluded significantintrinsic right heart pathology, n = 4897).Results: The RAI in ASD patients was significantly higherthan the general population (1.22 ± 0.19 vs. 0.81 ± 0.15,p < 0.0001). Significant atrial remodelling occurred imme-diately after transcatheter closure with a reduction in RAIat Day 1 to 0.93 ± 0.16 (p < 0.0001) and complete normali-sation at early follow-up to 0.81 ± 0.12.

Conclusion: Resolution of right atrial enlargement occursremarkably early after percutaneous ASD closure asdemonstrated by the novel tool Relative Atrial Index (RAI).This suggests right atrial enlargement is largely volume-loading dependent rather than structural.

Mean ± S.D.

Conclusion: Women with chest pain and non-obstructivecoronary artery disease are significantly more limited bytheir chest pain compared with males. Furthermore theyhave very low scores on both physical and mental qualityof life indices which warrants further investigation.

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.05.060

CARDIAC – IMAGING

60Rapid Normalisation Following Percutaneous SecundumAtrial Septal Defect Device Closure. A Study Using TheRelative Atrial Index (RAI)

Natalie Kelly ∗, Darren Walters, Lisa Walters, DarrylBurstow, Gregory Scalia

The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Chermside, Australia

Background: The Relative Atrial Index (RAI) (RA area(cm2)/LA area (cm2)) is a novel tool that we have shownto be useful for identifying patients with significant atrialshunting. RAI was used to assess the degree of normalisa-tion following percutaneous Amplatzer secundum atrialseptal defect (ASD) device closure.Methods: RAI was derived from the standard apical fourchamber view using the formula RAI = RA area (cm2)/LAarea (cm2) in patients (n = 88, mean age 38 ± 21; 57 females)before and after percutaneous ASD closure as well as inthe early (mean days 124) and late stages (mean days 390)of follow-up. RAI was also compared to normal valves

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.05.061

61How Should Strain Rate Imaging be Evaluated in theSequential Follow-Up of Myocardial Performance?

Rodel Leano ∗, Tony Stanton, Thomas Marwick

University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Background: The qualitative interpretation of echocardio-graphy may be unsuitable for sequential follow-up of ptswith LV dysfunction. Quantitative indices of tissue defor-mation have been used in follow-up of pts with infiltrativeand metabolic disorders. It is unclear however whethersequential images should be viewed side-by-side (SXS) orseparately (SEP).Methods: We studied 20 pts with no known heart disease 8months apart. Occult CVD was excluded by exercise echo,and DM and renal impairment by biochemistry. Colourtissue Doppler echo was performed, and peak strain andstrain rate (SR) were measured globally and segmentally.Strain and SR were measured SEP and SXS by blindedobservers randomly and compared.Results: Measurement of strain and SR was feasible inall pts. There were no significance differences in globalstrain measured SEP or SXS at either visit 1 (−21.0 ± 3.7 vs.−21.1 ± 4.1) or visit 2 (−19.5 ± 3.4 vs. −20.3 ± 3.6) (p = NS).In segmental strain, the only difference between SEPand SXS was in the septum (−19.1 ± 5.7 vs. −20.1 ± 5.7;p < 0.03). Similarly, there were no sig differences in meanstrain rate measured SEP or SXS at visit 1 (−1.31 ± 0.28vs. −1.27 ± 0.25) or visit 2 (−1.24 ± 0.20 vs. −1.23 ± 0.21)(p = NS) and no differences in segmental strain rates.