Clinical Association of Cystatin C and Atrial Fibrillation in Chinese Elderly

SummaryBackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with inflammation. Cystatin C is not only an inflammatory marker but also an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. We sought to investigate the relationship between serum levels of cystatin C and AF in the elderly.MethodsThis study retrospectively investigated 211 paroxysmal and persistent AF patients, 225 permanent AF patients (age ≥ 60 years), and 204 healthy elderly people in the control group for cystatin C, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), white blood cell count, biochemical indicators, and echocardiography.ResultsCompared with the control group, AF groups had higher values for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hsCRP, cystatin C, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular diameter but lower values of left ventricular ejection fraction (p < 0.05). After adjustment, correlation analysis showed that the serum level for cystatin C was closely related to blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and left atrial diameter, the correlation coefficients were, respectively, 0.490 mg/L, 0.547 mg/L, and 0.521 mg/L (all p < 0.05), but negatively associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (r = −0.702, p < 0.001) in AF groups. Multivariable regression analysis showed the hsCRP, cystatin C, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction entered finally into the regression equation (cystatin C, odds ratio: 1.93, 95% confidence interval 1.12–3.07, p = 0.010).ConclusionThe serum levels of cystatin C showed a significant correlation with AF, which indicates that increased cystatin C is related to the incidence of AF in older patients.