Association of serum growth differentiation factor-15 with eGFR and hemoglobin in healthy older females

Hiroko Yazawa; Taira Fukuda; Hiroyuki Kaneda; Ryutaro Waku; Masashi Sakuma; Akihiro Matsumoto; Shigeru Toyoda; Shichiro Abe; Fumitaka Nakamura; Teruo Inoue; Toshiaki Nakajima

doi:10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100651

Association of serum growth differentiation factor-15 with eGFR and hemoglobin in healthy older females

Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc. 2020 Oct 21:31:100651. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100651. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University and Heart Center, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
² Department of Liberal Arts and Human Development, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Kanagawa, Japan.
³ Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life, Jumonji University, Saitama, Japan.
⁴ Third Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University, Chiba Medical Center, Japan.

Abstract

Purpose: Anemia and sarcopenia associated with renal dysfunction caused by cytokine imbalance can contribute to decreased quality of life for older individuals. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is associated with renal dysfunction, although whether it is related to anemia or sarcopenia is unclear. In this study we examined the association of GDF-15 with renal function, hemoglobin and sarcopenia in healthy community-dwelling older females in Japan.

Methods: A total of 66 healthy older community-dwelling females (age: 75.8 ± 6.2 years) were enrolled for this study. Skeletal muscle mass index was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Hand-grip strength and walking speed were also assessed. Serum GDF-15 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and both hemoglobin (Hb) level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured.

Results: Serum GDF-15 levels positively correlated with age but negatively correlated with eGFR and walking speed. In multiple regression analysis, eGFR and hemoglobin (Hb) were independent variables to predict serum GDF-15 levels, even after adjusting for age and body mass index (eGFR: β = -0.423, p < 0.001; Hb: β = -0.363, p = 0.004). Serum GDF-15 level was an independent variable to predict eGFR and Hb.

Conclusions: Both Hb and eGFR are predictors for serum GDF-15 concentration in healthy older females. In these community-dwelling older females, renal dysfunction via GDF-15 may be accompanied by anemia, but not sarcopenia.

Keywords: Community-dwelling older females; GDF-15; Hemoglobin; Renal function.