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Mitral annular calcification is a predictor for incident atrial fibrillation
Caroline S Fox1, Helen Parise, Ramachandran S Vasan
1National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, MA 01702-5827, USA.
Atherosclerosis
|April 6, 2004
Summary
Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is linked to a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). This association may be partly explained by left atrial enlargement, highlighting the need for further research into valvular calcification mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Valvular Heart Disease
Background:
- Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
- Limited prospective data exist on the link between MAC and atrial fibrillation (AF).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between MAC and the long-term risk of incident AF.
- To explore potential mediating factors in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 16-year follow-up data from the Framingham Heart Study cohort.
- Assessment of MAC using M-mode echocardiography.
- Utilized Cox proportional-hazards models to estimate hazard ratios for incident AF.
Main Results:
- 13% of participants (149/1126) had MAC at baseline.
- MAC was associated with an increased risk of incident AF (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2) after multivariable adjustment.
- The association was attenuated when left atrial size was included (HR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.0).
Conclusions:
- The link between MAC and incident AF may be partially mediated by left atrial enlargement.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of cardiac valvular calcification.