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. 2016 Jun 10;5(6):e002816.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002816.

Intestinal Microbiota-Generated Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide and 5-Year Mortality Risk in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The Contributory Role of Intestinal Microbiota in a COURAGE-Like Patient Cohort

Vichai Senthong  1 , Zeneng Wang  2 , Xinmin S Li  2 , Yiying Fan  3 , Yuping Wu  3 , W H Wilson Tang  4 , Stanley L Hazen  5
Affiliations

Intestinal Microbiota-Generated Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide and 5-Year Mortality Risk in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The Contributory Role of Intestinal Microbiota in a COURAGE-Like Patient Cohort

Vichai Senthong et al. J Am Heart Assoc. .

Abstract

Background: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite derived from gut microbes and dietary phosphatidylcholine, is linked to both coronary artery disease pathogenesis and increased cardiovascular risks. The ability of plasma TMAO to predict 5-year mortality risk in patients with stable coronary artery disease has not been reported. This study examined the clinical prognostic value of TMAO in patients with stable coronary artery disease who met eligibility criteria for a patient cohort similar to that of the Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) trial.

Methods and results: We examined the relationship between fasting plasma TMAO and all-cause mortality over 5-year follow-up in sequential patients with stable coronary artery disease (n=2235) who underwent elective coronary angiography. We identified the COURAGE-like patient cohort as patients who had evidence of significant coronary artery stenosis and who were managed with optimal medical treatment. Higher plasma TMAO levels were associated with a 4-fold increased mortality risk. Following adjustments for traditional risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, elevated TMAO levels remained predictive of 5-year all-cause mortality risk (quartile 4 versus 1, adjusted hazard ratio 1.95, 95% CI 1.33-2.86; P=0.003). TMAO remained predictive of incident mortality risk following cardiorenal and inflammatory biomarker adjustments to the model (adjusted hazard ratio 1.71, 95% CI 1.11-2.61; P=0.0138) and provided significant incremental prognostic value for all-cause mortality (net reclassification index 42.37%, P<0.001; improvement in area under receiver operator characteristic curve 70.6-73.76%, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Elevated plasma TMAO levels portended higher long-term mortality risk among patients with stable coronary artery disease managed with optimal medical treatment.

Keywords: optimal medical treatment; prognosis; stable coronary artery disease; trimethylamine N‐oxide.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Unadjusted Kaplan–Meier estimates of risk of all‐cause mortality according to the quartiles of plasma TMAO levels. TMAO indicates trimethylamine‐N‐oxide.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cubic spline curve for hazard ratios for all‐cause mortality at 5 years with plasma TMAO levels. TMAO indicates trimethylamine‐N‐oxide.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between plasma TMAO concentration and mortality risk stratified according to clinical and laboratory subgroups. Forest plot of hazard ratio (squares) of 5‐year all‐cause mortality comparing fourth and first quartiles of plasma TMAO levels. Bars represent 95% CIs. ApoA1 indicates apolipoprotein A1; ApoB, apolipoprotein B; BNP, B‐type natriuretic peptide; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; hsCRP, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein; LDL, low‐density lipoprotein; MPO, myeloperoxidase; TMAO indicates trimethylamine‐N‐oxide.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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