Hemoglobin A1c and risk of left atrial thrombus and spontaneous echo contrast in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and risk of left atrial thrombus/spontaneous echo contrast (LAT/SEC) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 1158 consecutive non-valvular AF patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography prior to radiofrequency catheter ablation or electric cardioversion were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 87 (7.5%) patients with LAT/SEC. The HbA1c levels in the patients with LAT/SEC were significantly higher than that in patients without LAT/SEC (6.13 ± 0.41 vs. 5.89 ± 0.45 μmol/L, P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off point for HbA1c predicting LAT/SEC was 6.1% determined by receiver-operating characteristic curve. The area under the curve is 0.788 (95% confidence interval: 0.764–0.812). HbA1c ≥6.1% was an independent risk factor for LAT/SEC (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.98; P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated HbA1c indicated a significantly increased risk for LAT/SEC in non-valvular AF patients. HbA1c might have significance in predicting the risk for prothrombotic state in non-valvular AF patients.