Correlation between plasma saturated fatty acids and atrial fibrillation in a Chinese population

Abstract Background To investigate the correlation between plasma saturated fatty acids (SFA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in a Chinese population. Methods A total of 486 patients with atrial fibrillation who were admitted to the Cardiology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from June 2020 to May 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective study. An additional 486 individuals without atrial fibrillation who were matched for age and sex were selected as the control group. Data on the body mass index (BMI), history of smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, lipid-lowering therapy, and tumour history were collected from both groups. Plasma SFA levels were measured in both groups, including lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), arachidic acid (C20:0), behenic acid (C22:0), lignoceric acid (C24:0), total SFA, and other plasma fatty acid levels. Differences in general clinical indicators and fatty acids were compared between the two groups, and stepwise logistic regression was used to determine whether SFA was an independent correlate of atrial fibrillation. Plasma SFA levels were categorized and evaluated using quartiles as the reference index. Results After adjusting for other risk factors for atrial fibrillation, higher levels of plasma C16:0, C20:0, and total SFA were found to be independent correlates of atrial fibrillation and possibly also protective factors. The odds ratios [ORs] for the second and third quartiles of C16:0 compared to the lowest quartile were 0.481 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.256–0.905) and 0.366 (95% CI: 0.182–0.734); those for the third and fourth quartiles of C20:0 compared to the lowest quartile were 0.497 (95% CI: 0.275–0.898) and 0.514 (95% CI: 0.282–0.938); and those for the second and third quartiles of total SFA compared to the lowest quartile were 0.518 (95% CI: 0.277–0.967) and 0.372 (95% CI: 0.187–0.739), respectively (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Different SFAs may serve as circulating biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of atrial fibrillation.