Objective       To explore the associations of C-reactive protein (CRP)

neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and white blood cell (WBC) count with atrial fibrillation occurrence and cardiac structure indexes (left ventricular diameter

left atrial diameter

left ventricular posterior wall thickness

right ventricular diameter

and right atrial diameter).        Methods       A case-control study was performed. Medical records were collected from the department of cardiology of a grade Ⅲ class A hospital during November 2012 to December 2013. Subjects were divided into atrial fibrillation group and control group without atrial fibrillation. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations of the circulating levels of CRP

NLR and WBC with atrial fibrillation occurrence and cardiac structure indexes.        Results       The levels of CRP and NLR in the atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P0.001)

and high levels of CRP and NLR were significantly associated with atrial fibrillation (OR=2.25

95%CI=1.13~4.47

P=0.020

OR=1.41

95%CI: 1.06~1.89

  P=0.020). The WBC count had no significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.054)

and it was not significantly associated with atrial fibrillation. In the atrial fibrillation group

higher NLR level appeared in the high left atrial diameter group and high left ventricular posterior wall thickness group (P0.05). The multivariate analysis failed to identify the significant association between the CRP

NLR or WBC and the heart structure indexes.        Conclusion       High circulating levels of CRP and NLR have significant associations with atrial fibrillation

and may be independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation occurrence. However

there is no significant association of CRP

NLR or WBC with cardiac remodeling.