We retrospectively included 65 patients aged >65 years (mean age 82 years) with an history of AF on oral anticoagulant therapy who underwent non-contrast-enhanced CMR on a 3T machine between January 2021 and September 2022. Of the 65 patients, 10 were excluded due to poor image quality and artifacts. Therefore, the left ventricular strain values of 55 patients (38 male sex, 17 female sex) were examined using feature tracking analysis on dedicated software.

Circumferential and radial strain values were evaluated from cine SSFP sequences obtained in the short axis (SA) view, longitudinal strain values were evaluated from cine SSFP sequences obtained in the 2-chambers view for the left ventricle.

The values obtained were then compared with those of 10 healthy controls scanned on the same MR scanner between March 2021 and June 2021.

Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test. A p-value <0.05 defined statistical significance.