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Table 7 Inter- and intra-observer variability for the different LA quantification methods, dense spontaneous spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and left atrial appendage thrombus

From: Which method of left atrium size quantification is the most accurate to recognize thromboembolic risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation?

Inter-observer variability

A vs B

A vs C

B vs C

LA AP Diameter (mean ± SD,%)

1.05 ± 0.19

1.04 ± 0.2

1.04 ± 0.18

LA Area 4C (mean ± SD,%)

1.03 ± 0.23

1.04 ± 0.24

1.02 ± 0.21

LA Ellipsoid Volume (mean ± SD,%)

1.12 ± 0.36

1.1 ± 0.36

1.08 ± 0.33

LA 1P Area-Lenght Volume (mean ± SD,%)

1.09 ± 0.44

1.11 ± 0.47

1.06 ± 0.41

LA 2P Area-Lenght Volume (mean ± SD,%)

1.05 ± 0.28

1.07 ± 0.28

1.03 ± 0.27

Dense SEC

R = 0.797, p < 0.001

R = 0.849, p < 0.001

R = 0.841, p < 0.001

LAA Thrombus

R = 0.857, p < 0.001

R =1, p < 0.001

R = 0.857, p < 0.001

Intra-observer variability

A

B

C

LA AP Diameter (mean ± SD,%)

1 ± 0.08

1 ± 0.08

1 ± 0.07

LA Area 4C (mean ± SD,%)

1.01 ± 0.11

1.01 ± 0.09

1.01 ± 0.1

LA Ellipsoid Volume (mean ± SD,%)

1.01 ± 0.1

01.01 ± 0.1

0.98 ± 0.11

LA 1P Area-Lenght Volume (mean ± SD,%)

1.03 ± 0.24

1.02 ± 0.2

1.03 ± 0.22

LA 2P Area-Lenght Volume (mean ± SD,%)

1.01 ± 0.15

1.01 ± 0.15

1.02 ± 0.14

Dense SEC

R =0.901, p < 0.001

R =1, p < 0.001

R = 1, p < 0.001

LAA Thrombus

R = 1, p < 0.001

R = 1, p < 0.001

R =1, p < 0.001

  1. Legend: LA – left atrial; LAA – left atrial appendage; SEC – spontaneous echocardiographic contrast; 4C – 4-chamber; 1P – single-plane; 2P – biplane.
  2. A, B and C represent the three different echocardiographers.
  3. For LA measurements are presented the results of Bland-Altman analysis, expressed as mean ± SD of the ratio of the measurements in comparison. For dense spontaneous spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and left atrial appendage thrombus are presented the variability is presented as a correlation.