What does this research mean for the field?

Serum GDF-15 levels are significantly higher in patients with micro-AF compared to controls, indicating its potential as a biomarker for early arrhythmia detection. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore the association between GDF-15 levels and micro-atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing Holter monitoring.

January 10, 2026Open Access

Relationship Between Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Levels and Micro-Atrial Fibrillation

Key Result

Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in patients with micro-AF (544.2 pg/mL) compared to controls (344 pg/mL), indicating its potential as a biomarker.

Key Points

The aim is to explore the association between GDF-15 levels and micro-atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing Holter monitoring.
Enrolled 90 patients with palpitations undergoing 24-hour Holter monitoring.
Compared 45 patients with micro-AF against 45 control patients without supraventricular tachyarrhythmia.
Analyzed serum GDF-15 levels and clinical characteristics using logistic regression and ROC curve analyses.
The micro-AF group had significantly higher GDF-15 levels (544.2±322.5 pg/mL) compared to controls (344±138.8 pg/mL) with P<0.001.
Prior stroke was more frequent in the micro-AF group (28.8% vs. 6.7%, P<0.001).
GDF-15 was associated with stroke risk in univariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis.

Structured PICO

Are elevated serum GDF-15 levels associated with the presence of micro-atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with palpitations?

Population

90 adult patients (mean age 64.9 in micro-AF group, 63.2 in controls) who underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring due to palpitations at a single center in Türkiye. Key exclusions: prior diagnosis of paroxysmal AF, prior use of oral anticoagulants, structural valvular abnormalities, heart failure, thyroid dysfunction, and significant coronary artery disease.

Intervention

Micro-atrial fibrillation (micro-AF) diagnosed via 24-hour Holter monitoring (defined as tachycardia episodes lasting less than 30 seconds, composed of at least five consecutive supraventricular premature beats with irregular R-R intervals and absent P-waves)

Comparator

Matched controls without any supraventricular tachyarrhythmia recorded on 24-hour Holter monitoring

Outcome

Serum Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) levelssurrogate

Elevated serum GDF-15 levels are significantly associated with micro-atrial fibrillation and a history of stroke, suggesting its potential utility as a biomarker for early atrial remodeling and thromboembolic risk.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Objectives: Micro-atrial fibrillation (micro-AF) represents short, irregular supraventricular tachyarrhythmia episodes that may precede clinical atrial fibrillation (AF). Identifying biomarkers associated with micro-AF could improve early detection and risk stratification. Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15), a stress-responsive cytokine related to inflammation and myocardial injury, has been associated with AF, but its relationship with micro-AF remains unclear. Methods: Ninety patients who underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring due to palpitations were enrolled. Forty-five patients with micro-AF and 45 controls without supraventricular tachyarrhythmia were compared. Serum GDF-15 levels and clinical characteristics were analyzed using standard statistical methods, including logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Results: The groups were similar in age, sex, and comorbidities. Prior stroke was significantly more frequent in the micro-AF group (28.8% vs. 6.7%, P0.001). Mean serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in patients with micro-AF than in controls (544.2±322.5 vs. 344±138.8 pg/mL, P0.001). Logistic regression revealed that GDF-15 was associated with stroke risk in univariate analysis but not independently in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Elevated GDF-15 levels in individuals with micro-AF suggest an underlying inflammatory or structural atrial substrate, supporting its potential role as a biomarker for early arrhythmia detection and assessment of thromboembolic risk. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to clarify the prognostic significance of GDF-15 in micro-AF.

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Cite This Study

Orta et al. (Wed,) reported a other. Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in patients with micro-AF (544.2 pg/mL) compared to controls (344 pg/mL), indicating its potential as a biomarker.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6963220791e05aa366cb86e7 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1807849

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