STE image acquisition and analysis
For image acquisition for speckle tracking analysis, the machine was adjusted to acquire three cardiac cycles, with frame rate between 40-80 frames/s. Images were obtained in the parasternal short axis (PSAX) view in its three main levels: basal (mitral valve), mid (papillary muscles) and apical. LV apical window was composed by: longitudinal (APLAX), four (A4C) and two chambers (A2C) views.Off-line analyses were performed using the EchoPAC software, version v20.1 (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA). The parameters evaluated were: strain (ε,%) and strain rate (SR) (ε’,s
