Longitudinal associations between adiponectin and cardiac structure differ by hypertensive status: Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults

OBJECTIVE: We studied the longitudinal association between adiponectin and cardiac structure and function 10 years later stratified by hypertension status. METHODS: Multicenter longitudinal study of black and white men and women that began in 1985-1986, when participants were 18-30 years old. Adiponectin was measured at year 15(2000-2001). Echocardiograms were completed at year 25(2010-2011). Participants were stratified by the presence of hypertension. Risk factor-adjusted echocardiographic variables were compared across adiponectin quintiles. Linear and quadratic regression models were also derived for risk factor-adjusted echocardiographic variables. RESULTS: Relative to the lowest quintile of adiponectin, participants from the highest quintile had a 6% lower LV mass index (LVMi) among normotensives, and an 8% higher LVMi among hypertensives. Among normotensive participants, regression analysis demonstrated a linear inverse relationship between adiponectin and LV mass, LVMi, posterior wall thickness (PWT) and ventricular septal thickness (VST) (all p≤0.05). Among hypertensive participants, regression analysis demonstrated a U-shaped relationship between adiponectin and LV mass, LVMi, PWT and VST (p≤0.005 for all quadratic terms). CONCLUSIONS: Among normotensive participants, higher adiponectin may be a useful marker of less adverse future cardiac structure. Further study is required to see if adiponectin receptor agonists may provide a benefit among these individuals. Among hypertensive participants, further study is required to assess the prognostic and therapeutic use of adiponectin.