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Gustav Smith, MD, PhD

Gustav Smith

Associate professor

Gustav Smith, MD, PhD

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor D is associated with atrial fibrillation and ischaemic stroke

Author

  • John Berntsson
  • J. Gustav Smith
  • Linda S.B. Johnson
  • Martin Söderholm
  • Yan Borné
  • Olle Melander
  • Marju Orho-Melander
  • Jan Nilsson
  • Gunnar Engström

Summary, in English

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) has important functions in lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis. High plasma levels of VEGF-D have been associated with incidence of heart failure. The association of VEGF-D with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke is unclear and we hypothesised that VEGF-D could also be associated with incidence of AF and ischaemic stroke. Methods: VEGF-D was measured in fasting blood samples of 4689 subjects (40% men) without a history of AF from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, a prospective, population-based study in Sweden. Median age was 58 years (range 46-68). Cox regression analyses, adjusted for multiple risk factors, was used to assess AF and ischaemic stroke risk in relation to VEGF-D levels. Results: During a median follow-up time of 20.6 years, there were 637 cases of incident AF and 322 cases of first ischaemic stroke. After adjustment, VEGF-D was significantly associated with AF (HR 1.13(95% CI 1.04 to 1.23) per 1 SD increase) and ischaemic stroke (HR 1.14(95% CI 1.02 to 1.28) per 1 SD). The association with ischaemic stroke was explained by an increased incidence of AF-related stroke. HRs per 1 SD were 1.34 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.71) for AF-related ischaemic stroke and 1.04 (95% CI 0.90 to 1.19) for ischaemic stroke without AF. Conclusions: Increased VEGF-D concentrations were associated with AF and ischaemic stroke. The relationship with ischaemic stroke was more pronounced in subjects with a diagnosis of AF.

Department/s

  • EXODIAB: Excellence of Diabetes Research in Sweden
  • Cardiovascular Research - Epidemiology
  • Cardiology
  • EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
  • Internal Medicine - Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Research - Hypertension
  • Diabetes - Cardiovascular Disease
  • Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis

Publishing year

2019

Language

English

Pages

553-558

Publication/Series

Heart

Volume

105

Issue

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

BMJ Publishing Group

Topic

  • Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
  • Neurology

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • epidemiology
  • stroke

Status

Published

Research group

  • Cardiovascular Research - Epidemiology
  • Internal Medicine - Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Research - Hypertension
  • Diabetes - Cardiovascular Disease
  • Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1355-6037