[The Role of the Left Atrium in the Pathogenesis of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction].

Left atrial dysfunction (left atrial myopathy) is not only a consequence of impaired left ventricular diastolic function but also plays a central role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Left atrial myopathy in HFpEF is associated with a more severe course of heart failure and an unfavorable prognosis, and the choice of treatment largely depends on its severity. Echocardiography allows an accurate assessment of the left atrial condition, while the parameters of left atrial myocardial strain are sensitive to early functional disorders to help diagnosing HFpEF and determining the prognosis. This article discusses the participation of the left atrium in the left ventricular filling, its status at different stages of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, the major mechanisms of atrial myopathy in HFpEF, and therapeutic approaches to its restriction and reversion.