Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objective: In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and serum albumin levels which is a negative acute phase protein.
Methods: This study is single-center and has a retrospective design. We included patients with a diagnosis of rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS) and having serum albumin levels between 2011 and 2014. Then the patients were divided into two groups according to presence of AF. Clinical and laboratory data of these two groups were compared.
Results: The study included 74 patients having the inclusion criteria. Seventy seven percent of patients were female, mean age was 44±12 years. Atrial fibrillation was detected in 34% of the patients. Hypertension presence, age, left atrial diameter, creatinine, C-reactive protein were higher in AF group while serum albumin, left ventricular ejection fraction and mean transmitral gradient was significantly lower. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aging, lower albumin and anemia (respectively, odds ratio [OR]: 1.124, 95% confidence interval [CI], [1.049-1.205], OR: 0.022, 95% CI; [0.002-0.268] and OR: 5.941, 95% CI; [1.031-34.222]) were found to be independent predictors of AF presence.
Conclusion: Lower serum albümin levels, aging and anemia were associated with the presence of AF in patients with RMD. Low albümin levels can be a surrogate marker of increased inflammation and may serve as a risk factor for AF development.