Increased serum interleukin-6 level as a predictive biomarker for atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is related to a higher risk of thromboembolic events and mortality. Some studies have demonstrated that the inflammatory biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6) is associated with a higher risk of higher thrombosis in AF patients, but the real effect of IL-6 remains a controversy.

METHODS:

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between IL-6 and thromboembolic events, as well as bleeding events, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events and all-cause mortality in AF.

RESULTS:

A total of five studies involving 22 928 patients met our inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The higher level of IL-6 in AF patients is related to long-term thromboembolic events including stroke (RR 1.44, CI 95% 1.09-1.90, p=0.01). IL-6 meant a higher risk of long-term bleeding risk (RR 1.36, CI 95% 1.06-1.74, p=0.02), ACS risk (RR 1.81, CI 95% 1.43-2.30, p<0.001) and all-cause mortality (RR 2.35, CI 95% 2.09-2.65, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION:

A higher level of IL-6 may predict a greater number of long-term thromboembolic events and bleeding events, ACS events and mortality in AF patients. Further studies such as the cut-off point of IL-6 need to be conducted in the future.

• Authors: Peng Zhou, Maieryemu Waresi, Yikai Zhao, Hung-Chen Lin, Bangwei Wu, Nanqing Xiong, Huiyang Li, Qingyu Huang, Xinping Luo, Jian Li
• Journal: Revista portuguesa de cardiologia (Rev Port Cardiol (Engl Ed)) Vol. 39 Issue 12 Pg. 723-728 (Dec 2020) ISSN: 2174-2049 [Electronic] Spain
• PMID: 33234354 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants
• Biomarkers
• Interleukin-6

Topics

• Anticoagulants
• Atrial Fibrillation (diagnosis)
• Biomarkers
• Humans
• Interleukin-6
• Thromboembolism