Hua-Jing Yuan,1 Hua-Chen Jiao,2 Xiu-Juan Liu,2 Hao Hao,2 Yang Liu,2 Yi-Tao Xue,2 Yan Li2 

1Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250014, People’s Republic of China; 2Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250014, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Yi-Tao Xue; Yan Li, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanshi East Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-531-82602943 ; +86-531-68611662, Email xytsdzydfy@126.com; liyan88130@163.com

Purpose: The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been widely focused on and studied in recent years. However, the exact association between SUA and AF is unclear, and the effect of gender on the association between SUA levels and AF has been controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between SUA levels and non-valvular AF (NVAF) and the potential effect of gender on it.
Patients and Methods: A total of 866 NVAF patients (463 males, age 69.44 ± 8.07 years) and 646 sex-matched control patients in sinus rhythm, with no history of arrhythmia were included in this study. t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test were used for baseline data analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve, logistic regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used for correlation analysis.
Results: Compared to controls, NVAF patients exhibited higher SUA (P< 0.001). After adjusting for confounders of NVAF, SUA remained significantly associated with NVAF, regardless of gender (OR= 1.31, 95% CI 1.18– 1.43, P< 0.001). SUA demonstrated higher predictability and sensitivity in predicting the occurrence of female NVAF compared to male (area under the curve was 0.68 (95% CI 0.64– 0.72, P< 0.001), sensitivity 87.3%), with the optimal cut-off point identified as 5.72 mg/dL. Furthermore, SUA levels correlated with APOA1, Scr and NT-proBNP in NVAF patients. SUA levels varied significantly among NVAF subtypes.
Conclusion: High SUA levels were independently associated with NVAF, regardless of gender. SUA exhibited higher predictability and sensitivity in predicting the occurrence of NVAF in females compared to males. High SUA levels may affect other NVAF-related factors and participate in the pathophysiological process of NVAF.

Keywords: serum uric acid, non-valvular atrial fibrillation, gender difference, retrospective study, predictive indicators