The Clinical Significance of Procalcitonin Level Changes in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation with Heart Failure

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore the relevant factors and clinical significance of procalcitonin (PCT) levels in patients diagnosed with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). However, AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, while HF is a clinical syndrome characterized by the hearts inability to pump sufficient blood to meet the bodys metabolic demands. While PCT has been widely used for the clinical diagnosis of infectious diseases, its role in non-infectious diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving 286 hospitalized patients diagnosed with persistent AF and HF. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected, and PCT levels were assessed using the chemiluminescence immunoassay method. Moreover, clinical data, including HF severity, ventricular rate, age, and other variables of the study cohort were recorded. Furthermore, nonparametric tests were used to compare PCT levels among different groups, and multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to explore potential factors influencing PCT levels. Results: We observed that PCT levels were significantly associated with HF severity, ventricular rate, and age, even after adjusting for other clinical variables. The odds of having a positive PCT level (defined as >0.05 ng/mL) increased by 2.74 times for each increase in HF grade, by 3.21 times for a ventricular rate of ≥110 bpm compared to <110 bpm, and by 1.05 times for each year of age. These findings suggest that PCT could serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and assessment of HF in patients with AF, as well as an indicator of the cardiovascular stress or damage associated with AF. Conclusion: This study provides new insights into the potential of PCT in AF and HF, highlighting the need for additional investigations on the causal relationship and underlying biological pathways between PCT and these factors, as well as the diagnostic and prognostic significance of PCT in this population.