Association of Longitudinal Changes in Cardiac Biomarkers With Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmias (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities [ARIC] Study)

Am J Cardiol. 2021 Nov 1:158:45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.07.043. Epub 2021 Aug 28.

Abstract

We evaluated the association of longitudinal changes in circulating levels of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) with the burden of arrhythmias as captured by 2-week ambulatory ECG monitoring. This study included 1,930 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study participants who wore a leadless, ambulatory ECG monitor (Zio XT Patch) at visit 6 (2016 to 2017) and had cardiac biomarkers measured at visit 6 and visit 4 (median of 19 years earlier). The mean age of participants at V6 was 79 ± 5 years, 41% were men, and 22% were black. Adjusting for demographics, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, left ventricular mass, cardiac medications, patch wear time, visit 4 levels of NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT, and relative change in hs-cTnT, each log-transformed unit relative increase in NT-proBNP was associated with a higher likelihood of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.48), a higher number of daily atrial tachycardia episodes (geometric mean ratio [GMR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.21), and a higher daily ectopic burden (premature ventricular contractions -GMR 1.42, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.62; premature atrial contractions -GMR 1.40, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.57). In fully adjusted analyses, each log-transformed unit relative increase in hs-cTnT was only found to be weakly associated with a higher daily premature ventricular contraction burden (GMR 1.31, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.70). In conclusion, longitudinal change in NT-proBNP was associated with an increased atrial and ventricular arrhythmia burden.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / blood*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / epidemiology*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / blood*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Peptide Fragments / blood*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Troponin T / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Troponin T
  • pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain