Correlation Between Serum Albumin and D-Dimer Levels in 909 Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Study from a Single Center in China

BACKGROUND D-dimer level can reflect the hypercoagulable state of atrial fibrillation (AF) and predict thromboembolic events. However, no effective indicator associated with D-dimer of AF patients has been found to prevent thromboembolic events in AF. This retrospective study from a single center aimed to investigate the correlation between serum albumin and D-dimer levels in 909 patients with non-valvular AF (NVAF) and 653 subjects in sinus rhythm. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 909 NVAF patients and 653 sex- and age-matched sinus rhythm participants were used to compare serum albumin and D-dimer levels. Serum albumin was determined by colorimetry, and D-dimer level was determined by latex-enhanced photoimmunoassay. We analyzed the correlation of serum albumin and D-dimer with NVAF by correlation analysis, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS Albumin (P<0.001) and D-dimer (P<0.001) were significantly associated with NVAF. Among NVAF patients, D-dimer level was negatively correlated with albumin levels (P<0.001), and albumin level was an independent risk factor of abnormal D-dimer level (>0.5 ug/mL), which was also an effective predictor of abnormal D-dimer level (the area under the ROC curve was 0.77, P<0.001), and the optimal cutoff value was 36.95 g/L. CONCLUSIONS Serum albumin and D-dimer levels were significantly associated with NVAF. In NVAF patients, D-dimer level was inversely correlated with albumin levels, and albumin level was an independent risk factor and effective predictor of abnormal D-dimer level. Close examination and supplementation of serum albumin can prevent thromboembolic events, but further clinical research and confirmation are needed.