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 log(10)GDF-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 log(10)GDF-15 in multivariable analysis (beta = −0.29, p = 0.001). Baseline log(10)GDF-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.