title: Association of growth differentiation factor-15 with coronary atherosclerosis and mortality in a young, multiethnic population: observations from the Dallas Heart Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is produced by cardiomyocytes and atherosclerotic lesions under stress conditions. Although higher circulating GDF-15 concentrations are associated with mortality across a spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, the relationship of GDF-15 with atherosclerosis and mortality in the general population remains undefined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma GDF-15 in 3219 participants of the Dallas Heart Study, a population sample of adults ages 30-65 years (55% women, 49% black). GDF-15 was analyzed in prespecified categories (<1200; 1200-1799; and ≥1800 ng/L) and continuously. End points included prevalent coronary artery calcium (CAC>10 Agatston units), increased CAC (CAC≥100 Agatston units) by electron beam computed tomography, and mortality through a median 7.3 years of follow-up (120 deaths, 48 cardiovascular deaths).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increasing GDF-15 associated with older age, black race, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, left ventricular (LV) mass/body surface area, and worse renal function (P<0.0001 for each). In multivariable models adjusted for traditional risk factors, renal function, and LV mass/body surface area, GDF-15≥1800 ng/L was associated with CAC>10 (odds ratio 2.1; 95% CI 1.2-3.7; P=0.01), CAC≥100 (odds ratio 2.6; 95% CI 1.4-4.9; P=0.002), all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 3.5; 95% CI 2.1-5.9, P<0.0001), and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 2.5; 95% CI 1.1-5.8, P=0.03). Adding log GDF-15 to fully adjusted models modestly improved the c statistic (P=0.025), the integrated discrimination index (0.028; P<0.0001) and the category-less net reclassification index (0.42; P=0.002). These findings remained significant with further adjustment for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin T.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GDF-15 is independently associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and mortality, and its potential role for risk stratification in the general population merits further evaluation.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9047, USA. anand.rohatgi@utsouthwestern.edu
authors: Anand
authors: A
authors: Rohatgi
authors: Parag
authors: P
authors: Patel
authors: Sandeep R
authors: SR
authors: Das
authors: Colby R
authors: CR
authors: Ayers
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Khera
authors: Abelardo
authors: A
authors: Martinez-Rumayor
authors: Jarett D
authors: JD
authors: Berry
authors: Darren K
authors: DK
authors: McGuire
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: de Lemos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000097:blood*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15