Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio (FAR) as a Prognostic Indicator for Vascular Diseases

The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), a new inflammatory marker, is a potential prognostic indicator for vascular diseases. A high baseline fibrinogen‐to‐albumin ratio level is associated with an increased stroke recurrence risk, poor functional outcome, and dependence in patients with acute large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) stroke. Yafei Wang and colleagues mentioned in their study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. This study aimed to assess FAR's association with LAA stroke.

Total 809 patients within 72 hours of LAA stroke were included in the study. These were followed up for one year. FAR was calculated as fibrinogen/albumin (unit:g/L). The multivariate Cox regression or logistic regression analysis determined the associations of FAR with clinical outcomes. The recurrence of stroke, all‐cause death, poor functional outcome and dependence were included in the clinical outcomes.

Findings from the Study

• Among 809 patients with acute LAA stroke, the median FAR was 0.075.
• At 1 year, 12.7% (104 patients) had stroke recurrence, 13.0% (105 patients) had poor functional outcomes, and 9.8% (76 patients) had dependence.
• 29 patients, constituting 3.6%, died.
• After adjusting for confounding factors, the high FAR level was associated with stroke recurrence, poor functional outcome and dependence with a hazard ratio of 2.57, 3.30 and 3.49, respectively.

They said, "Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio may serve as a predictor of adverse outcomes in acute large artery atherosclerosis stroke. Appropriate treatment might be considered in patients with high FAR levels to reduce the occurrence of poor outcomes."

Our research found that high levels of fibrinogen were associated with an increased stroke recurrence risk. Albumin, an inflammation biomarker, has anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties, and previous studies have linked low albumin levels to an increased stroke risk.

The Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province funded the study.

Reference

Wang, Y. et al. Fibrinogen‐to‐Albumin ratio and clinical outcomes in patients with large artery atherosclerosis stroke. Journal of the American Heart Association, 12(24). https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.123.030837