Atrial septum fat deposition and atrial anatomy assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance: relationship to atrial electrophysiology

Methods 44 consecutive patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF> 35%), age<70 years old, were enrolled in a research study exploring the underlying myocardial substrate of ECG findings. The presence of interatrial fat was assessed with a complete CMR study including Dark-blood DIR-prepared Fat-Water-separated sequence3 in the horizontal longitudinal axis (4 chamber view). The left, right atria areas and the area of fat in the interatrial septum were measured. All participants underwent a 12-lead ECG recording at rest as well as a clinical interview on the same day as the CMR. The P wave duration, PR interval and the atrial fibrillation (AF) status were recorded.