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

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.

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.

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.

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.