02579nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245008900055210006900144260001600213520182700229100002402056700002102080700002702101700002302128700001902151700002402170700002302194700002202217700002402239700001802263700002002281856003602301 2021 eng d a1468-201X00aIndividual non-esterified fatty acids and incident atrial fibrillation late in life.0 aIndividual nonesterified fatty acids and incident atrial fibrill c2021 Jan 223 a

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and dysmetabolism are major risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF). Expansion of fat depots is associated with increased circulating total non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), elevated levels of which are associated with incident AF. We undertook comprehensive serum measurement of individual NEFA to identify specific associations with new-onset AF late in life.

METHODS: The present study focused on participants with available serum and free of AF selected from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a community-based longitudinal investigation of older US adults. Thirty-five individual NEFAs were measured by gas chromatography. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association of individual NEFAs with incident AF.

RESULTS: The study sample included 1872 participants (age 77.7±4.4). During median follow-up of 11.3 years, 715 cases of incident AF occurred. After concurrent adjustment of all NEFAs and full adjustment for potential confounders, higher serum concentration of nervonic acid (24:1 n-9), a long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid, was associated with higher risk of AF (HR per SD: 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.29; p<0.001). Conversely, higher serum concentration of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) (18:3 n-6), a polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acid, was associated with lower risk of AF (HR per SD: 0.81, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.94; p=0.004). None of the remaining NEFAs was significantly associated with AF.

CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults, serum levels of non-esterified nervonic acid were positively associated, while serum levels of non-esterified GLA were inversely associated, with incident AF. If confirmed, these results could offer new strategies for AF prevention and early intervention in this segment of the population at highest risk.

1 aPellegrini, Cara, N1 aBůzková, Petra1 aLichtenstein, Alice, H1 aMatthan, Nirupa, R1 aIx, Joachim, H1 aSiscovick, David, S1 aHeckbert, Susan, R1 aTracy, Russell, P1 aMukamal, Kenneth, J1 aDjoussé, Luc1 aKizer, Jorge, R uhttps://chs-nhlbi.org/node/8665