Age and Serum Adipocyte Fatty-Acid-Binding Protein Level Are Associated with Aortic Stiffness in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients

Old age has been proven to be related to progressed arterial or aortic stiffness. Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortalities in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Higher serum concentrations of adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein (A-FABP) could be considered a predictor of aortic stiffness in patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus. This study aims to investigate the relationships between A-FABP and aortic stiffness in patients who have received CABG. A total of 84 CABG patients were enrolled in our study from September 2018 to May 2019. Serum A-FABP levels were determined using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) > 10 m/s was defined as aortic stiffness. Of the 84 CABG patients, 28 (33.3%) with aortic stiffness had a higher average age; exhibited higher rates of diabetes; and had higher serum creatinine, C-reactive protein, and A-FABP levels compared to controls. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that serum A-FABP levels (odds ratio (OR) = 1.068, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.017-1.121, p = 0.008) and age (OR = 1.204, 95% CI 1.067-1.359, p = 0.003) were independent predictors of aortic stiffness. Multivariable stepwise linear regression revealed significant positive correlations of age and A-FABP levels with cfPWV values. Serum A-FABP level is positively correlated with cfPWV values, and a high serum A-FABP level is associated with aortic stiffness in patients who have undergone CABG.