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Factors influencing the relationship between atrial fibrillation and artery stiffness in elderly Chinese patients with hypertension

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research volume 28, pages 653–658 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background and aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often accompanied by vascular dysfunction in the elderly. The influencing factors in the development of AF are unclear. The aim of this study was to identify links between arterial stiffness and AF to provide new directions for the prevention of AF.

Methods

We recruited 132 patients with both hypertension and AF (78 with paroxysmal AF and 84 with persistent AF) and 136 hypertensive patients. Questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were conducted using standard protocols. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify correlations between arterial stiffness and the presence of AF.

Results

The brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) in hypertensive patients with AF was higher than those without AF (p < 0.001). Compared with paroxysmal AF patients, persistent AF patients had higher BaPWV values, serum homocysteine (Hcy) and uric acid (UA) concentrations, and left atrial diameters (LAD) (p < 0.05). In a multivariate model, the presence of AF was significantly associated with increased BaPWV (β = 0.104; p < 0.001). However, after further adjustment for UA, Hcy, and UA + Hcy, this association disappeared. Besides, multivariate analysis determined that Hcy, UA, and LAD were independently correlated to BaPWV.

Conclusions

In patients with hypertension, the presence of AF was associated with arterial stiffness. Serum UA and Hcy levels may reflect mechanisms behind this association.

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Author notes

    Affiliations

    1. Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China

      Di Shi, Qingtao Meng, Xiaoyan Zhou, Longxin Li, Kai Liu, Sen He, Si Wang & Xiaoping Chen

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    1. Di Shi
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    2. Qingtao Meng
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    3. Xiaoyan Zhou
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    4. Longxin Li
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    5. Kai Liu
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    6. Sen He
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    7. Si Wang
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    8. Xiaoping Chen
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Xiaoping Chen.

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    Conflict of interest

    On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

    Ethical approval

    The study was performed in compliance with the ethical standards of declaration of Helsenki and its amendments and the institutional ethical standards of West China hospital of Sichuan University.

    Informed consent

    Informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legal representatives prior to inclusion in the study.

    Additional information

    D. Shi and Q. Meng equally contributed to this article.

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    Cite this article

    Shi, D., Meng, Q., Zhou, X. et al. Factors influencing the relationship between atrial fibrillation and artery stiffness in elderly Chinese patients with hypertension. Aging Clin Exp Res 28, 653–658 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0455-8

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0455-8

    Keywords

    • Atrial fibrillation
    • Arterial stiffness
    • Brachial–ankle artery pulse wave velocity
    • Homocysteine
    • Uric acid