Authors
- Josip Anđelo Borovac — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-4878-8146
- Joško Božić — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0003-1634-0635
- Zora Sušilović Grabovac — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-9999-7557
- Anteo Bradarić — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-9843-6309
- Andrija Matetić — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-9272-6906
- Katarina Novak — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-7174-0722
- Duška Glavaš — University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0003-2649-0936
Keywords
atrial fibrillation, heart failure, ischemic stroke
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.348Full Text
Introduction : Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia associated with heart failure (HF). ( 1 ) Previous studies have shown correlation of cardiac markers such as NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTnI) with increased risk for thromboembolic and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AF. ( 2 ) Goals of this study were to evaluate the risk for ischemic stroke (IS) and significant bleeding, to examine clinical and laboratory characteristics, and to determine potential associations of NT-proBNP and hsTnI with aforementioned risks in patients with acute decompensated HF (ADHF) and AF. Patients and Methods : This study included a total of 47 patients with ADHF and AF, diagnosed according to the current criteria of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)1, which were hospitalized in University Hospital Centre Split during 2018 ( Table 1 ). Patients with an acute coronary syndrome and/or infectious disease were excluded. Results : Mean annual risk for IS without therapy was 8.74% while bleeding risk was 0.60% (p<0.001). After risk adjustment for individual antithrombotic therapy, mean risks for IS and bleeding were 3.46% and 3.10%, respectively, without significant difference between these risks (p=0.430). Use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants was almost equated with warfarin use (47.5% vs. 52.5%). Mean levels of hsTnI and NT-proBNP on admission were 56.7 ng/mL and 6550 pg/mL, respectively. Levels of hsTnI above the upper reference limit adjusted by sex were found in 26 (55.3%) patients. Levels of NT-proBNP on admission were significantly higher (p=0.014) in patients with higher risk for IS, as well as levels of hsTnI but without statistical significance (p=0.388). hsTnI showed positive correlation with NT-proBNP (r=0.545, p=0.010) and C-reactive protein (r=0.559, p<0.001), while NT-proBNP exhibited positive correlation with mean annual risk for IS (r=0.587, p=0.002) ( Figure 1 ). Mean NT-proBNP plasma levels (pg/mL) according to the annual risk of stroke or thromboembolic event divided in three categories of risk (<4%, 4-8%, >8%). Conclusion : The antithrombotic management reduced the risk for IS by nearly threefold, with an acceptable bleeding risk. Levels of hsTnI were increased in a large number of patients suggesting that myocardial injury is common during the hospitalization event of ADHF with AF. Levels of NT-proBNP on admission, in presented population, may aid in annual risk stratification for IS and thromboembolic event.