Association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ and risk of incident atrial fibrillation: Findings from 3 cohorts

Background Multiple prospective studies have established an association between inflammation and higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the association between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) mass and activity and incident AF has not been extensively evaluated. Methods Using data from 10,794 Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) study participants aged 53-75 years, 5,181 Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) participants aged 65 to 100 years, and 5,425 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants aged 45-84 years, we investigated the association between baseline Lp-PLA₂ levels and the risk of developing AF. Incident AF was identified in each cohort by follow-up visit electrocardiograms, hospital discharge coding of AF, or Medicare claims data. Results Over a mean of 13.1, 11.5, and 10.0 years of follow-up, 1,439 (13%), 2,084 (40%), and 615 (11%) incident AF events occurred in ARIC, CHS, and MESA, respectively. In adjusted analyses, each SD increment in Lp-PLA₂ activity was associated with incident AF in both ARIC (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.20) and MESA (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.05-1.46). Each SD increment in Lp-PLA₂ mass was also associated with incident AF in MESA (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.11-1.41). No significant associations were observed among CHS participants. Conclusions Although higher Lp-PLA₂ mass and activity were associated with development of AF in ARIC and MESA, this relationship was not observed in CHS, a cohort of older individuals.