Association between GDF-15 levels and changes in vascular and physical function in older patients with hypertension.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) may be a biomarker of disease, protective response and/or prognosis, in older people with hypertension.

Aims: To correlate baseline GDF-15 levels with physical and vascular health data in this population.

Methods: Baseline blood samples were analysed using a GDF-15 ELISA assay kit. Correlations with baseline and 12-month outcome data, including measures of physical and vascular function, were performed.

Results: A total of 147 individuals, mean age 76.8 ± 4.7 years, were included. 77 (52 %) were male. Baseline logGDF-15 showed significant correlations with age (r = 0.37, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (r = -0.33, p < 0.001) and 6-min walking distance (r = -0.37, p < 0.001). Age remained significantly associated with logGDF-15 in multivariable analysis (beta = -0.29, p = 0.001). Baseline logGDF-15 was significantly associated with decline in 6-min walk distance over 12 months (beta = -0.27, p = 0.01) in multivariable models. No significant correlations were seen with changes in vascular function over 12 months.

Conclusion: Baseline GDF-15 predicts declining physical, but not vascular, function in our population.