Correlation between vascular adhesion protein-1 and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background: VAP-1, an inflammation-induced endothelial molecule, is implicated in cardiovascular diseases, but its role in AF is unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between serum VAP-1 levels and AF risk, as well as its prognostic significance. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 356 hospitalized patients at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from May 2020 to September 2022, of whom 99 were diagnosed with AF. Serum VAP-1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at enrollment. Associations between AF onset and VAP-1 levels were assessed. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records and telephone follow-ups. Regression analysis, curve fitting, and survival analysis were used to evaluate these associations. Results: Retrospective analysis and curve fitting revealed an association between elevated VAP-1 levels and the onset of AF (HR = 1.001, 95% CI = 1.000-1.002). After adjustment for possible confounding factors, higher serum VAP-1 levels were associated with an increased risk of MACE in patients with AF (HR = 5.28, 95% CI = 0.64-43.66) and (HR = 28.35, 95% CI = 2.82-284.92). The results obtained from curve fitting and survival analysis corroborated the findings of the prior regression analysis. Conclusion: The results revealed a significant correlation between elevated VAP-1 levels and both the incidence of AF and the occurrence of MACE, suggesting that VAP-1 may serve as a valuable biomarker for predicting the onset and prognosis of AF.