1
|
Shchetynska-Marinova T, Liebe V, Papavassiliu T, de Faria Fernandez A, Hetjens S, Sieburg T, Doesch C, Sigl M, Akin I, Borggrefe M, Hohneck A. Determinants of arterial stiffness in patients with atrial fibrillation. Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2021; 114:550-560. [PMID: 33903034 DOI: 10.1016/j.acvd.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arterial stiffness has emerged as a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, end-organ damage and all-cause mortality. Although increased arterial stiffness has been described as a predictor of atrial fibrillation, the relationship between arterial stiffness and atrial fibrillation is uncertain. AIM We assessed arterial stiffness in patients with atrial fibrillation compared with that in a control group. METHODS We enrolled 151 patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent pulmonary vein isolation (mean age 71.1±9.8 years) and 54 control patients with similar cardiovascular risk profiles and sinus rhythm, matched for age (mean age 68.6±15.7 years) and sex. Aortic distensibility as a measure of arterial stiffness was assessed by transoesophageal echocardiography. Patients with atrial fibrillation were followed over a median of 21 (15 to 31) months. RESULTS Compared with control patients, patients with atrial fibrillation had significantly lower aortic distensibility (1.8±1.1 vs. 2.1±1.1 10-3mmHg-1; P=0.02). Age (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.003 to 0.03; P=0.02) and pulse pressure (hazard ratio -1.35, 95% confidence interval -0.07 to -0.03; P<0.0001) were the strongest predictors of decreased aortic distensibility in the study cohort. This effect was independent of the type of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal/persistent). During follow-up, decreased aortic distensibility was a predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause hospitalizations, as well as recurrences of atrial fibrillation, with a higher incidence rate of events in patients in the lowest aortic distensibility quartile (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Aortic distensibility was significantly reduced in patients with atrial fibrillation, with age and pulse pressure showing the strongest correlation, independent of the type of atrial fibrillation. Additionally, decreased aortic distensibility was associated with cardiovascular and all-cause hospitalizations, as well as recurrences of atrial fibrillation, which showed a quartile-dependent occurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tetyana Shchetynska-Marinova
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Volker Liebe
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Theano Papavassiliu
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany; DZHK (German centre for cardiovascular research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andréa de Faria Fernandez
- Medical faculty of Saarland University, Saarland University Hospital, Clinic for anaesthesiology, intensive medicine and pain therapy, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Svetlana Hetjens
- Department of biometry and statistics, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tina Sieburg
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christina Doesch
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Sigl
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ibrahim Akin
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany; DZHK (German centre for cardiovascular research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Borggrefe
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany; DZHK (German centre for cardiovascular research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anna Hohneck
- First department of medicine (cardiology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Centre for AngioScience (ECAS), 68167 Mannheim, Germany; DZHK (German centre for cardiovascular research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|