Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease (Feb 2017)

Serum Acylcarnitines and Risk of Cardiovascular Death and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris

  • Elin Strand,
  • Eva R. Pedersen,
  • Gard F. T. Svingen,
  • Thomas Olsen,
  • Bodil Bjørndal,
  • Therese Karlsson,
  • Jutta Dierkes,
  • Pål R. Njølstad,
  • Gunnar Mellgren,
  • Grethe S. Tell,
  • Rolf K. Berge,
  • Asbjørn Svardal,
  • Ottar Nygård

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.116.003620
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 2

Abstract

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BackgroundExcess levels of serum acylcarnitines, which are intermediate products in metabolism, have been observed in metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is not known whether acylcarnitines may prospectively predict risk of cardiovascular death or acute myocardial infarction in patients with stable angina pectoris. Methods and ResultsThis study included 4164 patients (median age, 62 years; 72% men). Baseline serum acetyl‐, octanoyl‐, palmitoyl‐, propionyl‐, and (iso)valerylcarnitine were measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for quartile 4 versus quartile 1 are reported. The multivariable model included age, sex, body mass index, fasting status, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, creatinine, left ventricular ejection fraction, extent of coronary artery disease, study center, and intervention with folic acid or vitamin B6. During median 10.2 years of follow‐up, 10.0% of the patients died of cardiovascular disease and 12.8% suffered a fatal or nonfatal acute myocardial infarction. Higher levels of the even‐chained acetyl‐, octanoyl‐, and palmitoyl‐carnitines were significantly associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular death, also after multivariable adjustments (HR [95% CI]: 1.52 [1.12, 2.06]; P=0.007; 1.73 [1.23, 2.44]; P=0.002; and 1.61 [1.18, 2.21]; P=0.003, respectively), whereas their associations with acute myocardial infarction were less consistent. ConclusionsAmong patients with suspected stable angina pectoris, elevated serum even‐chained acylcarnitines were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death and, to a lesser degree with acute myocardial infarction, independent of traditional risk factors. Clinical Trial RegistrationURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00354081.

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