Renal dysfunction is associated with shorter telomere length in heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Renal dysfunction is a frequent comorbidity associated with high mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The intrinsic biological age might affect the ability of the kidney to cope with the challenging environment caused by CHF. We explored the association between leukocyte telomere length, a marker for biological age, and renal function in patients with CHF.


RESULTS
Telomere length was determined by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 866 CHF patients. Renal function was estimated with the simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. The median age was 74 (interquartile range 64-79) years, 61% male, left ventricular ejection fraction of 30 (23-44)%, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was 53 (40-68) ml/min/1.73 m(2). Telomere length was associated with renal function (correlation coefficient 0.123, P < 0.001). This relationship remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, age of CHF onset (standardized-beta 0.091, P = 0.007). Also additionally adjusting for the severity of CHF and baseline differences did not change our findings.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between shorter leukocyte telomere length and reduced renal function in heart failure suggests that intrinsic biological aging affects the ability of the kidney to cope with the systemic changes evoked by heart failure.
Wong
Liza S M
LS
Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van der Harst
Pim
P
de Boer
Rudolf A
RA
Codd
Veryan
V
Huzen
Jardi
J
Samani
Nilesh J
NJ
Hillege
Hans L
HL
Voors
Adriaan A
AA
van Gilst
Wiek H
WH
Jaarsma
Tiny
T
van Veldhuisen
Dirk J
DJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left