Serum osteoprotegerin level is independently related to subclinical left atrial mechanical function in patients with hypertension and diabetes

Objectives Previous studies showed that subclinical abnormal left atrial (LA) function could be diagnosed with LA speckle tracking evaluation long before chamber enlargement. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily and was recently found to be an indicator for adverse cardiovascular outcomes and a risk factor for new onset atrial fibrillation. The authors hypothesized that OPG values could predict LA mechanical dysfunction and LA remodeling assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in patients with hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods A single center study was conducted including consecutive patients presenting to the authors' outpatient clinic. Enrolled patients needed to have been treated for HT and DM for at least 1 year. Results The study included 80 patients (mean age, 57.5 +/- 8.3 years). Patients in the impaired LA strain group were older (p = 0.035), had lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (mg/dl) (p = 0.021), and higher OPG (pmol/l) (p = 0.004) values than patients in the normal LA strain group. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age (p = 0.039), LDL cholesterol (mg/dl) (p = 0.025), and OPG (pmol/l) (p = 0.008) values were associated with impaired LA strain. Backward multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LDL cholesterol (mg/dl) (OR: 0.982, CI 95% 0.964-0.999,p = 0.049) and OPG (pmol/l) (OR: 1.438, CI 95% 1.043-1.983,p = 0.027) were independently associated with impaired LA strain. Conclusion In hypertensive and diabetic patients, higher OPG values were associated with impaired LA function assessed by 2D-STE. In this high-risk patient group, serum OPG can be used as a risk predictor for LA mechanical dysfunction.

Automated summary

Higher osteoprotegerin levels in hypertensive and diabetic patients were correlated with impaired left atrial function as assessed by 2D-STE. This suggests that serum osteoprotegerin can be used as a risk predictor for left atrial mechanical dysfunction in this high-risk patient population.