522 Inflammatory biomarkers in heart failure family caregivers: Associations of TNF-α and adiponectin with cardiovascular risk

Objectives/Goals: Caring for a loved one with heart failure (HF) is a chronic stressor that may elevate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study examined relationships between TNF-α, adiponectin, and clinical and demographic factors among HF family caregivers (FCGs). Methods/Study Population: This study is a secondary data analysis of baseline data from FCGs of individuals with HF enrolled in an intervention study (N=122, mean age 55 ± 11.7 years, range 25–80). The sample included 92% women and was racially diverse, with 59% identifying as African American, 39.3% as Caucasian, and 1.64% as other ethnicities. TNF-α and adiponectin levels were analyzed, and Spearman’s correlation was used to explore their associations with cardiovascular and metabolic indicators, including lipids and anthropometric measures. Results/Anticipated Results: TNF-α was inversely associated with total cholesterol (ρ = -0.241, p = 0.037) and adiponectin (ρ = -0.275, p = 0.017). Adiponectin was negatively associated with triglycerides (ρ = -0.208, p = 0.023), C-reactive protein (CRP; ρ = -0.283, p = 0.002), and metabolic syndrome (ρ = -0.181, p = 0.049). These findings suggest that TNF-α contributes to inflammation, while adiponectin may play a protective role in metabolic health. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Findings suggest that elevated TNF-α and reduced adiponectin may mark higher CVD risk in HF caregivers. Targeting inflammation and boosting adiponectin could reduce this risk. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these relationships and guide caregiver-focused interventions.