Application of speckle tracking imaging in assessment of right ventricular function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To study the clinical value of speckle tracking imaging(STI) in assessment of right ventricular function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). Methods Sixty-one OSAHS patients admitted to our hospital from March 2012 to February 2013 served as an OSAHS group which was further divided into mild OSAHS group, moderate OSAHS group and severe OSAHS group according to their apnea hypopnea index(AHI), and 20 healthy subjects served as a control group in this study. Myocardial strain of right ventricular free wall segments and its curve were analyzed according to their STI. Results The TAPSE, E/A, IVA, SR, SRs, SRe, and SRe/SRa were lower while the RAVM, E/Em, DTm, IVRT, and SRa were higher in OSAHS group than in control group(P<0.05). Conclusion STI can assess the early clinical manifestations of right ventricular function in OSAHS patients.