The association between adipokines dysregulation and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and obese patients, is it relevant?

Elsa de la Chesnaye, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Research Unit, Siglo XXI National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute, Mexico City, México
Cristina Revilla-Monsalve, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Research Unit, Siglo XXI National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute, Mexico City, México
Gerardo Rodríguez-Díez, Electrophysiology and Arrhythmias Service, 20 de Noviembre National Medical Center, Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers. Mexico City, México

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia, affecting approximately 33.5 millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, the prevalence of this arrhythmia will increase within the following two decades, resulting in a higher mortality rate and a higher economic burden for public health services. Obesity, specifically central obesity, plays an essential role in developing AF by increasing pericardial fat and epicardial adipose tissue thickness, generating a chronic inflammation state where dysregulation of the serum concentration of several proinflammatory proteins occurs and indirectly promotes AF. Therefore, recent research has focused on analyzing the circulating concentration of different molecules, including pro and anti-inflammatory adipokines, and their association with AF. Herein, we review several studies addressing the association of adipokines with the onset or recurrence of AF to establish such association as a potential biomarker for the prevention or adequate treatment of this arrhythmia. We concluded that the insight into this topic is very controversial and needs further research.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation. Obesity. Adipokines. Inflammation. Biomarkers.