Vitamin D status and outcomes in heart failure patients

Abstract

AimsVitamin D status has been implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). The aims of this study were to determine whether a low vitamin D status is associated with prognosis in HF and whether activation of the reninangiotensin system (RAS) and inflammatory markers could explain this potential association.Methods and resultsWe measured 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D), plasma renin activity (PRA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the incidence of death or HF rehospitalization in 548 patients with HF. Median age was 74 (6480) years, left ventricular ejection fraction was 30 (2342), and mean follow-up was 18 months. Low 25(OH)D levels were associated with female gender (P< 0.001), higher age (P 0.002), and higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels (P< 0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that PRA (P 0.048), and CRP levels (P 0.006) were independent predictors of 25(OH)D levels. During follow-up, 155 patients died and 142 patients were rehospitalized. KaplanMeier analysis showed that lower 25(OH)D concentration was associated with an increased risk for the combined endpoint (all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalization; log rank test P 0.045) and increased risk for all-cause mortality (log rank test P 0.014). After adjustment in a multivariable Cox regression analysis, low 25(OH)D concentration remained independently associated with an increased risk for the combined endpoint [hazard ratio (HR) 1.09 per 10 nmol/L decrease; 95 confidence interval (CI) 1.001.16; P 0.040] and all-cause mortality (HR 1.10 per 10 nmol/L decrease; 95 CI 1.001.22; P 0.049).ConclusionA low 25(OH)D concentration is associated with a poor prognosis in HF patients. Activation of the RAS and inflammation may confer the adverse effects of low vitamin D levels. © 2011 The Author.