OBJECTIVES

We aimed to explore the potential role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), d-dimer, and the echocardiographic parameter left atrial diameter (LAD) in identifying and predicting the occurrence of ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 445 patients with NVAF in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. They were divided into the NVAF (309 cases) and NVAF with stroke (136 cases) groups according to whether acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurred at admission. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the odds ratio (OR) of NT-proBNP, d-dimer, and LAD for IS. The predictive value of NT-proBNP, d-dimer, and LAD in identifying the occurrence of IS in NVAF was determined by plotting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

NT-proBNP, d-dimer, and LAD levels were significantly higher in the NVAF with stroke group than in the NVAF group (p < .05). NT-ProBNP, d-dimer, and LAD were independently associated with IS in NVAF patients (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.16; OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.37-2.55; OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.13-1.28, p < .01). The optimal cutoff points for NT-ProBNP, d-dimer, and LAD levels to distinguish the NVAF group from the NVAF with stroke group were 715.0 pg/ml, 0.515 ng/ml, and 38.5 mm, respectively, with the area under the curve (AUC) being [0.801 (95% CI: 0.76-0.84); 0.770 (95% CI: 0.72-0.85); 0.752 (95% CI: 0.71-0.80), p < .01]. The combined score of NT-proBNP, d-dimer, and LAD improved the predictive efficacy of the single index, with an AUC of 0.846 (95% CI: 0.81-0.88, p < .01), sensitivity of 77.2%, and specificity of 76.4%.

CONCLUSION

NT-proBNP, d-dimer, and the echocardiographic parameter LAD have outstanding value in predicting the risk of IS in patients with NVAF.