BNP and CRP in the prediction of atrial fibrillation

What is it about?

We studied the usefulness of measuring blood markers of inflammation and heart insufficiency to predict the future risk of atrial fibrillation, a common cardiac arrhythmia, among more than 26,000 men and women in Europe and the United States. We found that the both blood markers were associated with higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation and that this information was useful to classify individuals according to their future risk of atrial fibrillation.

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Why is it important?

Our results indicate that having information on BNP, a marker of atrial stretch, and to a much smaller extent on CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation, help to identify individuals at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a common cardiac arrhythmia. This information could be useful to select subjects for interventions to prevent atrial fibrillation or for close follow-up and early identification of the arrhythmia.