Significance of serum fibroblast growth factor-23 and miR-208b in pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation and their relationship with prognosis

BACKGROUND: The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation are increasing each year, and this condition is one of the most common clinical arrhythmias. AIM: To investigate the levels and significance of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and miR-208b in patients with atrial fibrillation and their relationship with prognosis. METHODS: From May 2018 to October 2019, 240 patients with atrial fibrillation were selected as an observation group, including 134 with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 106 with persistent atrial fibrillation; 150 patients with healthy sinus rhythm were selected as a control group. The serum levels of FGF-23 and miR-208b in the two groups were measured. In the observation group, cardiac parameters were determined by echocardiography. RESULTS: The serum levels of FGF-23 and miR-208b in the observation group were 210.20 ± 89.60 ng/mL and 5.30 ± 1.22 ng/mL, which were significantly higher than the corresponding values in the control group (P < 0.05). In the observation group, the serum levels of FGF-23 and miR-208b in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation were 234.22 ± 70.05 ng/mL and 5.83 ± 1.00 ng/mL, which were significantly higher than the corresponding values in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (P < 0.05). The left atrial dimension (LAD) of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation was 38.81 ± 5.11 mm, which was significantly higher than that of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (P > 0.05). The serum levels of FGF-23 and miR-208b were positively correlated with the LAD (r = 0.411 and 0.382, P < 0.05). In the observation group, the serum levels of FGF-23 and miR-208b in patients with a major cardiovascular event (MACE) were 243.30 ± 72.29 ng/mL and 6.12 ± 1.12 ng/mL, which were significantly higher than the corresponding values in patients without a MACE (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The serum levels of FGF-23 and miR-208b are increased in patients with atrial fibrillation and are related to the type of disease, cardiac parameters, and prognosis.