Luc Djousse

Harvard University, USA

Title: Plasma total and individual non-esterified fatty acids and risk of heart failure

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Biography

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Abstract

Background: Although high plasma concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) have been associated with lipotoxicity, glucose dysregulation, and incidence of type 2 diabetes, little is known about the role of total as well as individual NEFAs on the incidence of heart failure (HF)

 

Hypotheses: We tested the hypotheses that (1) plasma concentration of total NEFAs is positively associated with the incidence of HF and (2) only few individual NEFAs confer elevated risk of HF.

 

Methods: We prospectively analyzed data from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Total NEFAs (n=4,248) were measured by the Wako enzymatic method and individual NEFAs were measured by gas chromatography (n=2,140). HF events were adjudicated by the Events Committee.

 

Results: The mean age at baseline (1992–93) was 75 years. During a median follow up of 11 years, 1,286 (30%) participants developed HF. In a multivariable adjusted Cox regression, each standard deviation higher plasma NEFAs was associated with 13% (95% CI: 6% to 19%) higher risk of HF (p <0.001). Analysis of 35 individual NEFAs showed inverse associations [HR (95% CI) per standard deviation] of non-esterified pentadecanoic [0.73 (0.57-0.94)], ?-linolenic acid (GLA) [0.87 (0.75-1.00)], and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [0.73 (0.61-0.88)] acids with HF, and positive associations of non-esterified stearic [1.30 (1.04-1.63)] and nervonic [1.17 (1.06-1.29)] acids with HF.

 

Conclusion: Among older adults, we observed a positive association of plasma total NEFAs with HF that is driven by non-esterified stearic acid and nervonic acid while inverse associations were seen with plasma pentadecanoic, GLA, and DHA.