Association of growth and differentiation factor-15 with coronary artery calcium score and ankle-brachial index in a middle-aged and elderly Caucasian population sample free of manifest cardiovascular disease

AbstractGrowth and differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-associated cytokine of the transforming growth factor- β superfamily. The inflammatory and angiogenic effects of GDF-15 in atherosclerosis are controversial, and its correlation with the long asymptomatic phase of the disease is not well understood. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) are sensitive markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. To date, only a few studies have examined the impact of GDF-15 on coronary artery calcification, and the association between GDF-15 and ABI has not been evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the possible relationship between serum GDF-15 concentrations and CACS and ABI in a Caucasian population sample of middle-aged (35–65 years) and elderly (>  65 years) people. In addition to recording demographic and anthropometric characteristics, atherosclerotic risk factors, and laboratory tests including serum HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic pepti de (NT-proBNP); GDF-15 level, cardiac computed tomography, and ABI measurements were also performed. A total of 269 asymptomatic individuals (men,n = 125; median age, 61.5 [IQR, 12.7] years) formed the basis of this study. Participants were divided into two groups according to their age (middle-aged,n = 175 and elderly,n = 94). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significantly mor...
Source: AGE - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research