Evaluation of serum adiponectin levels in patients with heart failure and relationship with functional capacity

OBJECTIVES
We aimed to evaluate serum adiponectin levels in relation to the NYHA functional capacity class in patients with heart failure (HF).

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 49 patients (40 males, 9 females; mean age 63 years) with HF, whose functional capacity was NYHA class II to IV. Echocardiographic examination was performed and serum adiponectin levels were measured. The results were compared in relation to the NYHA classes and with those of 41 control subjects (24 males, 17 females; mean age 54.2 years) without HF.

RESULTS
Functional capacity was NYHA class II in 13 patients (26.5%), class III in 23 patients (46.9%), and class IV in 13 patients (26.5%). Compared to the control group, the HF group exhibited a significantly higher mean age (p=0.001), lower body mass index (p=0.004), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (33.2±7.7% vs. 64.9±4.3%; p=0.0001), and increased serum adiponectin level (4.0±3.2 µmg/dl vs. 2.4±2.3 µmg/dl; p=0.009). Both EF (p=0.001) and adiponectin level (p=0.004) showed significant differences between the NYHA groups, with the latter showing a sharp increase from 2.6±2.6 µmg/dl in class II to 6.8±3.7 µmg/dl in class IV. In all paired comparisons between the three NYHA groups, EF and serum adiponectin level exhibited significant differences except for the serum adiponectin level for NYHA class II and III (for NYHA class II and IV, p=0.003; for class III and IV, p=0.008). In correlation analysis, serum adiponectin level was in a significantly inverse correlation with EF (r=-0.380, p=0.0001), and a positive correlation with the NYHA class (r=0.423, p=0.0001).

CONCLUSION
Serum adiponectin levels significantly increase in patients with HF, in parallel with deterioration in functional capacity and with significant decreases in EF.