Clinical risks and biomarkers identified for atrial fibrillation diagnosis

Scientists from the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences have carried out research at the University of Birmingham’s College of Medical and Dental Sciences and have identified biomarkers that could be used to screen patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder affecting approximately 1.6 million people in the UK, by testing the blood to check whether they have increased levels of brain natriuretic peptide (hormone secreted by the heart) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (protein responsible for phosphate regulation). The researchers also identified other clinical risks including older aged, male and high body mass index during the study which saw them analyse 40 common cardiovascular biomarkers in 638 hospital patients.
Dr Winnie Chua, first author, said: “People with atrial fibrillation are much more likely to develop blood clots and suffer from strokes. To avoid strokes it is important for them to take anticoagulant drugs to prevent blood clotting. However, atrial fibrillation is often only diagnosed after a patient has suffered a stroke. Therefore it is important that patients at risk are screened so that they can begin taking anticoagulants to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.”