Soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background: Disturbances in atrial microcirculation is recognized as risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). \r\nAIM: The aim of this study was to determine the associations between circulating soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and the risk of AF and a one-year prognosis among consecutive inpatients. \r\nMethods: Eighty consecutive inpatients hospitalized due to non-valvular AF and 80 consecutive inpatients admitted for exacerbation of chronic coronary syndrome (control group) were enrolled to the study. A cardiologic work-up was performed and blood sVCAM-1 concentration was determined using the ELISA method. \r\nResults: Patients with AF had similar blood sVCAM-1 concentration compared to the control group. AF patients treated with new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were significantly less likely to have a sVCAM-1 concentration elevated above the median value than patients treated with warfarin (34.2% vs. 65.8%; p = 0.01). Patients with increased percentage of fat mass (FM) had lower sVCAM-1 concentration. The risk of all-cause mortality and MACE during follow-up rose in individuals with elevated sVCAM-1 (≥1242 and ≥587 ng/ml, respectively) with (OR; 95%CI): 5.39; 1.57-18.45; p = 0.007, and 6.00; 1.18-30.37; p = 0.03, respectively. Risk of death rose with increase in the ratio of sVCAM-1 and FM (1.02; 1.00-1.04; p = 0.019). \r\nConclusions: Elevated sVCAM-1 was associated with all-cause mortality and MACE during one-year follow-up, but do not links the risk of AF. Use of NOACs may favorable affect endothelial function, A lower level of sVCAM-1 in obese patients may mediate the phenomenon of the “obesity paradox” in patients with AF.