Background and objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases systemic inflammation, which is implicated in development and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF); therefore, we hypothesized that the prevalence of AF would be increased among nondialysis patients with CKD. This study also reports independent predictors of the presence of AF in this population.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of 1010 consecutive nondialysis patients with CKD from two community-based hospitals was conducted. Estimated GFRs (eGFRs) were calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors.Results: Of 1010 nondialysis patients with CKD, 214 (21.2%) had AF. Patients with AF were older than patients without AF (76 ؎ 11 versus 63 ؎ 15 yr). The prevalence of AF among white patients (42.7%) was higher than among black patients (12.7%) or other races (5.7%). In multivariate analyses, age, white race, increasing left atrial diameter, lower systolic BP, and congestive heart failure were identified as independent predictors of the presence of AF. Although serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were elevated in our population (5.2 ؎ 7.4 mg/L), levels did not correlate with the presence of AF or with eGFR. Finally, eGFR did not correlate with the presence of AF in our population.Conclusions: The prevalence of AF was increased in our population, and independent predictors were age, white race, increasing left atrial diameter, lower systolic BP, and congestive heart failure.

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The goal of this study was to evaluate the relation between serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and prognosis in African American (AA) patients with heart failure (HF). Little is known about the usefulness of CA125 in the AA population, which has different pathophysiology and higher prevalence of HF. The authors enrolled 172 consecutive AA patients (mean age, 55.8 years; 61.1% men) admitted with a clinical diagnosis of acute decompensated HF. CA125 was measured within 48+/-12 hours of presentation. Patients were grouped according to CA125 levels into quartiles. The median CA125 level was 16 U/mL. Serum levels of CA125 were elevated (>35 U/mL) in 58 patients (33.7%). Fifty-two patients (30.8%) died over a median follow-up period of 40 months. The CA125 threshold derived from the receiver operating characteristic curves for the prediction of mortality was 35 U/mL. In a multivariate analysis, CA125 levels >35 U/mL were found to be predictive of 40-month all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.53; confidence interval, 1.40-4.59; P=.002). However, CA125 levels were not associated with 18-month HF rehospitalization. CA125 value is a strong and independent predictor of long-term mortality in AA patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute decompensated HF. Identifying a higher-risk cohort might allow for a more targeted treatment approach.

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Background High values of both preoperative and postoperative cardiac troponin I (cTnI) contribute to higher rates of short‐term cardiac events following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The prognostic value of very early cTnI in this context is unclear. Hypothesis Measurement of cTnI very early after admission to the emergency room can be used as a prognosticator for long‐term outcomes after CABG. Methods We conducted a cohort study on 160 consecutive patients with ACS undergoing CABG at The John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County (Chicago, IL) representing a total follow‐up of 290.42 person‐years. Adverse outcomes were defined as death or reinfarction. We used robust multivariate survival analyses to determine whether early cTnI measurement can independently predict the adverse outcomes in the study subjects. Results In univariate and stepwise multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling we found that unit rise in early cTnI is associated with a 3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2%− 5%, p < 0.001) faster progression to long‐term adverse events after CABG even after adjusting for the type of ACS. Prognostically, the most informative cut off value for cTnI was 5.6 ng/mL. Above this value, CABG patients progressed 2.58 times faster to adverse outcomes (95% CI: 1.05–6.36, p = 0.039). This effect remained after adjustment for other significant confounders namely, poor compliance to medications, female sex, Medicaid insurance, and electrocardiographic ischemia. Conclusion Early cTnI measurement after admission can predict adverse outcomes after CABG. This association extends to long‐term adverse events after CABG. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.