Telomere length and the risk of atrial fibrillation: insights into the role of biological versus chronological aging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Advanced age is the most important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the mechanism remains unknown. Telomeres, regions of DNA that shorten with cell division, are considered reliable markers of biological aging. We sought to examine the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and incident AF in a large population-based cohort using direct LTL measurements and genetic data. To further explore our findings, we compared atrial cell telomere length and LTL in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods and results

Mean LTL and the TERT rs2736100 single nucleotide polymorphism were assessed as predictors of incident AF in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Among the surgical patients, within subject comparison of atrial cell telomere length versu

SUBMITTER: Roberts JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4294941 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature