Predictive Variables for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Males and Females

A team of researchers led by Weiping Sun evaluated clinical and laboratory biomarkers in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) and concluded that age, smoking, and mean hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were independent predictive factors for pAF. Their process was published in Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging.

The single-center, cross-sectional study enrolled 181 patients with a mean age of 52.9 ± 15.1 years. Participants were grouped by presence of pAF and sex differences. According to the authors, patients with pAF were characterized by greater age, left atrial diameter, hemoglobin levels, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, soluble tumor suppressor-2, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), indirect bilirubin (Ibil), mean hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), hypertension, and rate of smoking (P<.05).

Based on their multivariable logistic regression analysis, the researchers concluded that age (odds ratio [OR], 1.075; 95% CI, 1.035-1.118; P<.0001), smoking (OR, 4.538; 95% CI, 1.559-13.205; P=.006), and MCHC (OR, 1.062; 95% CI, 1.019-1.106; P=.004) were independent predictive factors for pAF in both sexes. Additionally, the authors found that BNP was an independent predictive factor for pAF in males, while age (OR, 1.107; 95% CI, 1.016-1.206; P=.02) and Ibil (OR, 2.303; 95% CI, 1.158-4.582 P=.017) were independent predictors for females.

The study was limited by its retrospective and cross-sectional design, small sample size, and lack of patient follow-up, potentially introducing bias, the authors acknowledged. Regardless, they still constructed their risk profiles based on the findings.

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