Inter‐ and intra‐observer variability in the echocardiographic evaluation of wall motion abnormality in patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction or takotsubo syndrome – A novel approach

• Published in: Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2023-07, Vol.40 (7), p.711-719
• Main Authors: Poller, Angela, Jha, Sandeep, Espinosa, Aaron Shekka, Zeijlon, Rickard, Thorleifsson, Sigurdur James, Andersson, Erik Axel, Bobbio, Emanuele, Pirazzi, Carlo, Gudmundsson, Thorsteinn, Mellberg, Tomas, Martinsson, Andreas, Bech‐Hanssen, Odd, Redfors, Björn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abnormality; agreement; association; Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; echocardiography; Echocardiography - methods; ejection fraction; Humans; Hypokinesia; Kardiologi; longitudinal strain; myocardial infarction; Observer Variation; reproducibility; score index; size; society; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction - complications; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy - diagnostic imaging; takotsubo syndrome; wall motion; wall motion abnormality
• ISSN: 0742-2822; 1540-8175
• DOI: 10.1111/echo.15638

Introduction and Objectives Using existing transthoracic echocardiographic indices to quantify left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (WMAs) can be difficult due to the variations in the location of the abnormalities within the left ventricle, the quality of examinations, and the inter‐/intra‐observer variability of available indices. This study aimed to evaluate a new approach for measuring the extent of WMA by calculating the percentage of abnormal wall motion and comparing it to the wall motion score index (WMSI). The study also sought to assess inter‐ and intra‐observer variability. Methods The study included 140 echocardiograms from 54 patients presenting with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction or Takotsubo syndrome. All patients underwent an echocardiographic examination according to a standard protocol and the images were used to measure the extent of akinesia (proportion akinesia, PrA), akinesia and hypokinesia (proportion akinesia/hypokinesia, PrAH), and WMSI. The inter‐observer variability between the two operators was analyzed. The intra‐observer analysis was performed by one observer using the same images at least 1 month after the first measurement. The agreement was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland‐Altman plots. Results Inter‐ and intra‐observer variability for PrA and PrAH were low and comparable to those for WMSI. Conclusion PrA and PrAH are reliable and reproducible echocardiographic methods for the evaluation of left ventricular wall motion.