Biomarkers and heart failure events in patients with atrial fibrillation in the ARISTOTLE trial evaluated by a multistate model

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist. We investigated the prognostic impact of biomarkers on the development of HF and death in patients with AF and different left ventricular systolic function considering the influence of competing events. Methods: The study included 11,818 patients with AF from the ARISTOTLE trial who at entry had information on history of HF, an estimate of left ventricular function and plasma samples for determination of biomarkers representing cardiorenal dysfunction (NT-proBNP, troponin T, cystatin C) and inflammation (GDF-15, IL-6, CRP). Patients were categorized into: (I) HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, n=2,048), (II) HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, n=2,520), and (III) No HF (n=7,250). Biomarker associations with HF hospitalization and death were analyzed using a multi-state model accounting also for repeated events. Results: Baseline levels of NT-proBNP, troponin T, cystatin C, GDF-15, IL-6, and CRP were highest in HFrEF and lowest in No HF. During median 1.9 years follow-up, 546 patients were hospitalized at least once for HF and 819 died. Higher levels of all investigated biomarkers were associated with both outcomes (all p<0.0001), with highest event rates in HFrEF and lowest in No HF. The associations remained after adjustments and were more pronounced for first than for recurrent events. Conclusions: In anticoagulated patients with AF, biomarkers indicating cardiorenal dysfunction and inflammation improve the identification of patients at risk of developing HF or worsening of already existing HF. These biomarkers might be useful for targeting novel HF therapies in patients with AF

Biomarkers of inflammation in atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common and associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure (HF) and mortality. Inflammation is linked to AF. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate inflammatory activity and cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with AF on effective oral anticoagulation. Levels of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen at study entry and serial changes of IL-6 over time were investigated and related to stroke or systemic embolism, mortality and other cardiovascular events, including major bleeding. Associations between IL-6, CRP and biomarkers of cardiorenal dysfunction (NT-proBNP, troponin, GDF-15 and cystatin C) and HF hospitalisation, recurrent HF hospitalisations and mortality, were also investigated in patients with AF stratified for HF symptoms and reduced or preserved ejection fraction. The study populations consisted of patients with AF included in the biomarker substudies of the large multicentre randomised controlled trials RE-LY (n=6,187) and ARISTOTLE (n=14,954) with a median follow-up of 2.0 and 1.9 years, respectively. Repeated IL-6 measurements were available at study entry and at any postbaseline time point at 3, 6 and 12 months in RE-LY (n=2,559), and at study entry and at 2 months in ARISTOTLE (n=4,830). For HF stratification, patients in ARISTOTLE with information on HF symptoms and left ventricular function at study entry and with IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, troponin T, GDF-15 and cystatin C available at randomisation (n=11,818) were included. Higher level of IL-6, but not of CRP, was significantly associated with higher risk of mortality in Cox models adjusted for established clinical risk factors and other cardiovascular biomarkers. The level of any of the studied inflammatory biomarkers was not independently associated with any other cardiovascular outcome, including stroke or systemic embolism or major bleeding, in presence of other strong cardiovascular biomarkers. Levels of IL-6 were stable over time and persistent inflammatory activity was associated with increased risk of mortality, independent of clinical risk factors and other prognostic biomarkers. All biomarkers (IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, troponin T, GDF-15 and cystatin C) were associated with higher risk of HF hospitalisation and mortality regardless of HF symptoms and reduced or preserved ejection fraction. In conclusion, in anticoagulated patients with AF, higher level of IL-6, but not of CRP, was associated with higher risk of mortality, independent of clinical risk factors and other cardiovascular biomarkers. IL-6 levels were stable over time and provided incremental information on the risk of mortality irrespective of when measured. IL-6 may therefore serve as a risk marker for fatal outcomes. Biomarkers improved the identification of patients with AF at risk of HF in addition to clinical and echocardiography data

Biomarkers of inflammation in atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common and associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure (HF) and mortality. Inflammation is linked to AF. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate inflammatory activity and cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with AF on effective oral anticoagulation. Levels of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen at study entry and serial changes of IL-6 over time were investigated and related to stroke or systemic embolism, mortality and other cardiovascular events, including major bleeding. Associations between IL-6, CRP and biomarkers of cardiorenal dysfunction (NT-proBNP, troponin, GDF-15 and cystatin C) and HF hospitalisation, recurrent HF hospitalisations and mortality, were also investigated in patients with AF stratified for HF symptoms and reduced or preserved ejection fraction. The study populations consisted of patients with AF included in the biomarker substudies of the large multicentre randomised controlled trials RE-LY (n=6,187) and ARISTOTLE (n=14,954) with a median follow-up of 2.0 and 1.9 years, respectively. Repeated IL-6 measurements were available at study entry and at any postbaseline time point at 3, 6 and 12 months in RE-LY (n=2,559), and at study entry and at 2 months in ARISTOTLE (n=4,830). For HF stratification, patients in ARISTOTLE with information on HF symptoms and left ventricular function at study entry and with IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, troponin T, GDF-15 and cystatin C available at randomisation (n=11,818) were included. Higher level of IL-6, but not of CRP, was significantly associated with higher risk of mortality in Cox models adjusted for established clinical risk factors and other cardiovascular biomarkers. The level of any of the studied inflammatory biomarkers was not independently associated with any other cardiovascular outcome, including stroke or systemic embolism or major bleeding, in presence of other strong cardiovascular biomarkers. Levels of IL-6 were stable over time and persistent inflammatory activity was associated with increased risk of mortality, independent of clinical risk factors and other prognostic biomarkers. All biomarkers (IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, troponin T, GDF-15 and cystatin C) were associated with higher risk of HF hospitalisation and mortality regardless of HF symptoms and reduced or preserved ejection fraction. In conclusion, in anticoagulated patients with AF, higher level of IL-6, but not of CRP, was associated with higher risk of mortality, independent of clinical risk factors and other cardiovascular biomarkers. IL-6 levels were stable over time and provided incremental information on the risk of mortality irrespective of when measured. IL-6 may therefore serve as a risk marker for fatal outcomes. Biomarkers improved the identification of patients with AF at risk of HF in addition to clinical and echocardiography data

Serum Neurofilament Light Chain in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with stroke and MRI features of cerebral tissue damage but its impact on levels of serum neurofilament light chain (sNFL), an established biochemical marker of neuroaxonal damage, is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this observational study, sNFL was analyzed in 280 patients with AF and 280 controls without AF matched for age, sex, and diabetes status within the STABILITY (Stabilization of Atherosclerotic Plaque by Initiation of Darapladib Therapy) trial. None of the patients had a history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack. Patients with a diagnosis of AF were divided into two groups based on if they were in AF rhythm at the time of blood sampling (AF ECG+, n=74), or not (AF ECG-, n=206). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to adjust for clinical risk factors. In patients with AF, the levels of sNFL were 15% (AF ECG+) and 10% (AF ECG-) higher than in the control group after adjustment for clinical risk factors, P=0.047 and 0.04, respectively. There was no association between anticoagulation treatment and sNFL levels. CONCLUSIONS: sNFL was elevated in patients with AF compared with matched controls without AF. Ongoing AF rhythm was associated with even higher levels of sNFL than in patients with a diagnosis of AF but currently not in AF rhythm. Anticoagulation treatment did not affect sNFL levels

Obesity paradox on outcome in atrial fibrillation maintained even considering the prognostic influence of biomarkers : insights from the ARISTOTLE trial

Objective We investigated the association between obesity and biomarkers indicating cardiac or renal dysfunction or inflammation and their interaction with obesity and outcomes. Methods A total of 14 753 patients in the Apixaban for Reduction In STroke and Other ThromboemboLic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (ARISTOTLE) trial provided plasma samples at randomisation to apixaban or warfarin. Median follow-up was 1.9 years. Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured at baseline and categorised as normal, 18.5-25 kg/m(2); overweight, >25 to <30 kg/m(2); and obese, >= 30 kg/m(2). We analysed the biomarkers high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), troponin T and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP). Outcomes included stroke/systemic embolism (SE), myocardial infarction (MI), composite (stroke/SE, MI, or all-cause mortality), all-cause and cardiac mortality, and major bleeding. Results Compared with normal BMI, obese patients had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 and lower levels of GDF-15, troponin T and NT-pro-BNP. In multivariable analyses, higher compared with normal BMI was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (overweight: HR 0.73 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.86); obese: 0.67 (0.56 to 0.80), p<0.0001), cardiac death (overweight: HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.93); obese: 0.71 (0.56 to 0.92), p=0.01) and composite endpoint (overweight: 0.80 (0.70 to 0.92); obese: 0.72 (0.62 to 0.84), p<0.0001). Conclusions Regardless of biomarkers indicating inflammation or cardiac or renal dysfunction, obesity was independently associated with an improved survival in anticoagulated patients with AF

Obesity paradox on outcome in atrial fibrillation maintained even considering the prognostic influence of biomarkers : insights from the ARISTOTLE trial

Objective We investigated the association between obesity and biomarkers indicating cardiac or renal dysfunction or inflammation and their interaction with obesity and outcomes. Methods A total of 14 753 patients in the Apixaban for Reduction In STroke and Other ThromboemboLic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (ARISTOTLE) trial provided plasma samples at randomisation to apixaban or warfarin. Median follow-up was 1.9 years. Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured at baseline and categorised as normal, 18.5-25 kg/m(2); overweight, >25 to <30 kg/m(2); and obese, >= 30 kg/m(2). We analysed the biomarkers high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), troponin T and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP). Outcomes included stroke/systemic embolism (SE), myocardial infarction (MI), composite (stroke/SE, MI, or all-cause mortality), all-cause and cardiac mortality, and major bleeding. Results Compared with normal BMI, obese patients had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 and lower levels of GDF-15, troponin T and NT-pro-BNP. In multivariable analyses, higher compared with normal BMI was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (overweight: HR 0.73 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.86); obese: 0.67 (0.56 to 0.80), p<0.0001), cardiac death (overweight: HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.93); obese: 0.71 (0.56 to 0.92), p=0.01) and composite endpoint (overweight: 0.80 (0.70 to 0.92); obese: 0.72 (0.62 to 0.84), p<0.0001). Conclusions Regardless of biomarkers indicating inflammation or cardiac or renal dysfunction, obesity was independently associated with an improved survival in anticoagulated patients with AF

Serial measurement of interleukin-6 and risk of mortality in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation : Insights from ARISTOTLE and RE-LY trials.

BACKGROUND: The inflammatory biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6) is associated with mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVE: To investigate if repeated IL-6 measurements improve the prognostication for stroke or systemic embolism, major bleeding, and mortality in anticoagulated patients with AF. METHODS: IL-6 levels by ELISA were measured at study entry and at 2 months in 4830 patients in the Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (ARISTOTLE) trial with 1.8 years median follow-up. In the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial, IL-6 was measured at study entry, 3, 6, and 12 months in 2559 patients with 2.0 years median follow-up. Associations between a second IL-6 measurement and outcomes, adjusted for baseline IL-6, clinical variables, and other cardiovascular biomarkers, were analyzed by Cox regression. RESULTS: Median IL-6 levels were 2.0 ng/L (interquartile range [IQR] 1.30-3.20) and 2.10 ng/L (IQR 1.40-3.40) at the two time-points in ARISTOTLE, and, in RE-LY, 2.5 ng/L (IQR 1.6-4.3), 2.5 ng/L (IQR 1.6-4.2), 2.4 ng/L (IQR 1.6, 3.9), and 2.4 ng/L (IQR 1.5, 3.9), respectively. IL-6 was associated with mortality; hazard ratios per 50% higher IL-6 at 2 or 3 months, respectively, were 1.32 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.41; P < .0001) in ARISTOTLE, and 1.11 (1.01-1.22, P = .0290) in RE-LY; with improved C index from 0.74 to 0.76 in ARISTOTLE, but not in the smaller RE-LY cohort. There were no consistent associations with second IL-6 and stroke or systemic embolism, or major bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent systemic inflammatory activity, assessed by repeated IL-6 measurements, is associated with mortality independent of established clinical risk factors and other strong cardiovascular biomarkers in anticoagulated patients with AF