Factors Influencing the Relationship Between Atrial Fibrillation and Artery Stiffness in Elderly Chinese Patients with Hypertension

Background And Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often accompanied by vascular dysfunction in the elderly. The influencing factors in the development of AF are unclear. The aim of this study was to identify links between arterial stiffness and AF to provide new directions for the prevention of AF.

Methods: We recruited 132 patients with both hypertension and AF (78 with paroxysmal AF and 84 with persistent AF) and 136 hypertensive patients. Questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were conducted using standard protocols. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify correlations between arterial stiffness and the presence of AF.

Results: The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) in hypertensive patients with AF was higher than those without AF (p < 0.001). Compared with paroxysmal AF patients, persistent AF patients had higher BaPWV values, serum homocysteine (Hcy) and uric acid (UA) concentrations, and left atrial diameters (LAD) (p < 0.05). In a multivariate model, the presence of AF was significantly associated with increased BaPWV (β = 0.104; p < 0.001). However, after further adjustment for UA, Hcy, and UA + Hcy, this association disappeared. Besides, multivariate analysis determined that Hcy, UA, and LAD were independently correlated to BaPWV.

Conclusions: In patients with hypertension, the presence of AF was associated with arterial stiffness. Serum UA and Hcy levels may reflect mechanisms behind this association.