The BNP to Albumin Ratio and Heart Rate in Stroke Complicating Atrial Fibrillation

Heart rate is still a controversial and unclear factor of stroke risk in atrial fibrillation. Indices combining parameters are more accurate predictors than single parameters. This article assessed the association of the BNP-to-albumin ratio (BAR), with the risk of stroke, and evaluated the relationship between heart rate and stroke risk. Data were retrospectively collected from the Zhongnan Hospital electronic records. Binary logistic regression assessed the association between BAR and the prediction of acute stroke in atrial fibrillation. Spearman's correlation analysis evaluated the correlation between heart rate and BAR. The specificity and sensitivity of the BAR index were determined by ROC curve analysis. A total of 197 participants were involved, including 119 cases and 78 controls. The mean BAR was significantly higher for cases than for controls P = 0.00 while the difference in mean heart rate did not reach statistical significance P = 0.08. Using binary logistic analysis, BAR was a significant predictor of stroke in AF, OR = 1.67 95%CI [1.09-2.55] P = 0.018. The correlation between BAR and heart rate was significant, the correlation coefficient was r = 0.15 P = 0.03. ROC curve analysis showed that at a cut-off value of 2.01*10-9 g/L 93% of patients with a BAR of less than 2.01 did not have an acute stroke and only the 60% with a BAR greater than 2.01 experienced an acute stroke. It's been suggested that the BNP to albumin ratio and heart rate could be used to estimate the risk of stroke among hospitalized atrial fibrillation patients, thus contributing to the implementation of appropriate measures.