N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level inversely associates with metabolic syndrome in elderly persons

AIMS: Serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was lower in the general population with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MetS and fasting serum NT-proBNP concentration in elderly persons. METHODS: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 84 elderly volunteers aged 65 years or older. MetS and its components were defined using diagnostic criteria from the International Diabetes Federation. RESULTS: Thirty-eight elderly persons (45.2%) had MetS. Fasting NT-proBNP level was negatively correlated with MetS among elderly patients (p = 0.001). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that age (r = 0.338; p = 0.002) was positively correlated with fasting serum log-NT-proBNP levels, while height (r = -0.253; p = 0.020), body weight (r = -0.238; p = 0.029), waist circumference (r = -0.270; p = 0.013), body fat mass (r = -0.356; p = 0.002) and triglyceride (r = -0.291; p = 0.007) were negatively correlated with fasting serum log-NT-proBNP levels among the elderly persons. Multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis of the significant variables showed that age (R2 change = 0.114, p = 0.011), triglyceride (R2 change = 0.118, p < 0.001), body fat mass (R2 change = 0.084, p < 0.001), and height (R2 change = 0.101, p < 0.001) were the independent predictor of fasting serum log-NT-proBNP levels in elderly persons. CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP level is significantly reduced in elderly persons affected by MetS, and is significantly positively related to age, while negatively related to triglyceride, body fat mass, height in these subjects.