Gustavo Rodolfo Moreira et al. Diane Xavier Ávila Angelo Michele Di Candia Victoria Depes Scaramussa Humberto Villacorta
Abstract
Background
There is a lack in identifying heart failure (HF) patients with an increased risk of hospitalization and death. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a biomarker associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, emerges as a candidate associated with cardiovascular and renal disease. The low estimated glomerular filter rate (eGFR), low urinary sodium (UNa), and the high ratio of albumin to creatinine are renal markers already associated with a high risk of hospitalization and mortality.
Objective
To evaluate the relationship between GDF-15 and renal markers in patients with chronic HF.
Method
We enrolled 87 consecutive patients with symptomatic HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 40%), mildly reduced LVEF (40–49%) or an improved LVEF (50% but previously < 50%) in a university hospital. We compared the associations of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP with renal markers using correlation tests and multiple regression analysis at the significance level of 5%.
Results
GDF-15 and NT-proBNP had weak to moderate negative correlations with UNa (r=-0.362, p=0.007; r=-0.334, p=0.014, respectively) and eGFR (r=-0.385, p=0.0002; r=-0.346, p=0.001, respectively). GDF-15, age, hypertension and NT-proBNP were independently associated with eGFR in multiple regression analysis (overall R2=0.32). GDF-15 (positive) and age (negative) were independently associated with UAC (overall, R2=0.30). Only GDF-15 was independently associated with UNa (R2=0.45).
Conclusions
In these chronic patients with HF, GDF-15 is better correlated with markers of renal dysfunction than NT-proBNP. Since the prognostic value of renal markers is well established, these findings reinforce the prognostic role of GDF-15 in chronic HF.