Open AccessAssociations of Lipoprotein(a) Levels With Incident Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Stroke: The ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study
Author(s) -
Aronis Konstantinos N.,
Zhao Di,
Hoogeveen Ron C.,
Alonso Alvaro,
Ballantyne Christie M.,
Guallar Eliseo,
Jones Steven R.,
Martin Seth S.,
Nazarian Saman,
Steffen Brian T.,
Virani Salim S.,
Michos Erin D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.117.007372
Subject(s) - medicine , atherosclerosis risk in communities , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , stroke (engine) , ischemic stroke , stroke risk , disease , ischemia , mechanical engineering , engineering
Background Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is proatherosclerotic and prothrombotic, causally related to coronary disease, and associated with other cardiovascular diseases. The association of Lp(a) with incident atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and with ischemic stroke among individuals with AF remains to be elucidated. Methods and Results In the community‐based ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study cohort, Lp(a) levels were measured by a Denka Seiken assay at visit 4 (1996–1998). We used multivariable‐adjusted Cox models to compare AF and ischemic stroke risk across Lp(a) levels. First, we evaluated incident AF in 9908 participants free of AF at baseline. AF was ascertained by electrocardiography at study visits, hospital International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision ( ICD‐9 ) codes, and death certificates. We then evaluated incident ischemic stroke in 10 127 participants free of stroke at baseline. Stroke was identified by annual phone calls, hospital ICD‐9 Revision codes, and death certificates. The baseline age was 62.7±5.6 years. Median Lp(a) levels were 13.3 mg/dL (interquartile range, 5.2–39.7 mg/dL). Median follow‐up was 13.9 and 15.8 years for AF and stroke, respectively. Lp(a) was not associated with incident AF (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–1.17), comparing those with Lp(a) ≥50 with those with Lp(a) <10 mg/dL. High Lp(a) was associated with a 42% relative increase in stroke risk among participants without AF (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.90) but not in those with AF (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.70–1.61 [ P interaction for AF =0.25]). There were no interactions by race or sex. No association was found for cardioembolic stroke subtype. Conclusions High Lp(a) levels were not associated with incident AF . Lp(a) levels were associated with increased ischemic stroke risk, primarily among individuals without AF but not in those with AF .