<h1>Data from: The Association Between Alcohol Consumption, Cardiac Biomarkers, Left Atrial Size and Re-ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Referred for Catheter Ablation</h1>

<h2>Creators</h2>

<ul>

  <li>Barmano, Neshro</li>

  <li>Charitakis, Emmanouil</li>

  <li>Kronstrand, Robert</li>

  <li>Walfridsson, Ulla</li>

  <li>Karlsson, Jan-Erik</li>

  <li>Walfridsson, Håkan</li>

  <li>Nyström, Fredrik H.</li>

</ul>

<h2>Description</h2>

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Information on alcohol consumption in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is often limited by the reliance on self-reports. The aim of this study was to describe the long-term alcohol consumption, measured as ethyl glucuronide in hair (hEtG), in patients undergoing RFA due to AF, and to examine potential associations with cardiac biomarkers, left atrial size and re-ablation within one year after the initial RFA.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong> The amount of hEtG was measured in patients referred for RFA, with a cut-off of 7 pg/mg. N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the mid-regional fragment of pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) were examined, and maximum left atrium volume index (LAVI) was measured. The number of re-ablations was examined up to one year after the initial RFA. Analyses were stratified by gender, and adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, presence of heart failure, and heart rhythm. For re-ablation analyses, heart rhythm was replaced by type of AF.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 192 patients were included. Median NT-proBNP in men with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. &lt; 7 pg/mg was 250 (96–695) vs. 130 (49–346) pg/ml (p = 0.010). In women, it was 230 (125–480) vs. 230 (125–910) pg/ml (p = 0.810). Median MR-proANP in men with hEtG ≥ 7 vs. &lt; 7 pg/mg was 142 (100–224) vs. 117 (83–179) pmol/l (p = 0.120); in women, it was 139 (112–206) vs. 153 (93–249) pmol/l (p = 0.965). Median maximum LAVI was 30.1 (26.7–33.9) vs. 25.8 (21.4–32.0) ml/m² (p = 0.017) in men, and 25.0 (18.9–29.6) vs. 25.7 (21.7–34.6) ml/m² (p = 0.438) in women. Adjusted analyses showed similar results, with MR-proANP becoming significant in men (p = 0.047). The odds ratio of having a re-ablation was 3.5 (95% CI 1.3–9.6, p = 0.017) in men with hEtG ≥ 7 pg/mg, with no significant difference in women.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In male patients with AF and hEtG ≥ 7 pg/mg, NT-proBNP and MR-proANP were higher, left atrial volumes were larger, and there was a higher rate of re-ablations compared to men with hEtG &lt; 7 pg/mg. This implies that men with alcohol consumption corresponding to an hEtG-value ≥ 7 have a higher risk for left atrial remodeling, potentially leading to deterioration of the AF situation.</p>

<h2>Notes</h2>

<ul>

  <li><strong>DatabasePLOSOne.csv</strong> - The association between alcohol consumption, cardiac biomarkers and myocardial function in patients with atrial fibrillation referred for catheter ablation.</li>

  <li><strong>DatabasePLOSOne.sav</strong> - The association between alcohol consumption, cardiac biomarkers and myocardial function in patients with atrial fibrillation referred for catheter ablation.</li>

</ul>