Prognostic Role of Serum Albumin Levels in Elderly Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the elderly, and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events (CVE). Hypoalbuminemia is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general population.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the possible predictive value of serum albumin (SA) on MACE occurrence, in a cohort of elderly patients with non-valvular AF and several comorbidities for long-term follow-up.

METHODS

1057 elderly with non-valvular AF were enrolled (75.92 ± 6.1years; 295 on VKAs and 762 on DOACs) and stratified according to median value of SA, 532 patients with SA ≤ 3.6 g/dL and 525 patients with SA > 3.6 g/dL. MACE (non-fatal ischemic stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death), and non-cardiovascular mortality occurrence were evaluated during a median follow-up of 5.5 years (IQR 2.1-7.2).

RESULTS

In the whole observational study, patients with SA ≤ 3.6 g/dL are associated with an increased risk of MACEs by 59%. In addition, 10-year ageing are associated with an increased risk of MACE; in contrast, a MNA score > 24 pt and therapy with DOACs are associated with a reduced risk of MACE.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with non-valvular AF with SA ≤ 3.6 g/dL show a higher risk of MACE and non-cardiovascular mortality.