Plasma expression level of Hsa_circ_0099734 is associated with atrial fibrillation and its poor prognosis

Abstract

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia characterized by severe complications such as stroke, resulting in high disability and mortality rates. A circular RNA (circRNA) hsa_circ_0099734 was found significantly expressed in the atrial tissue of AF patients and controls in our previous work. In this study, we aim to reveal the association between hsa_circ_0099734 and AF as well as its poor prognosis, offering novel perspectives for clinical treatment.

Methods

A 1:1 matched case-control study was designed to examine the association between hsa_circ_0099734 and AF. A prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the association between hsa_circ_0099734 and AF prognosis using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Results

An elevated plasma level of hsa_circ_0099734 was an independent risk factor for AF in a multivariable conditional logistic regression model (OR 3.23, 95 % CI: 1.11–9.44; P = 0.032). Regarding the prognostic role of hsa_circ_0099734, the multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that a high level of hsa_circ_0099734 in plasma was an independent risk factor for stroke in patients with AF (HR 2.87, 95 % CI: 1.90–4.35; P < 0.001), and also an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in AF patients (HR 3.16, 95 % CI: 2.25–4.45; P < 0.001). Adding hsa_circ_0099734 to the CHA₂DS₂-VA score provided better reclassification and net clinical benefit than the ABC risk score.

Conclusions

The plasma level of hsa_circ_0099734 was associated with AF risk and the occurrence of stroke or all-cause mortality in AF patients. Hsa_circ_0099734 has the potential to be a non-invasive biomarker for predicting AF and its poor prognosis.