Cardiac Biomarkers and Malnutrition Incidence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults without Cardiovascular Disease: The Seniors-ENRICA-2 Cohort.

Abstract

Background: Given the close relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and malnutrition, we examined whether higher concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), which indicate CVD risk in the general population, were prospectively associated with malnutrition incidence in community-dwelling older adults without CVD.

Methods: We used data from 1490 individuals ≥65 years from the Seniors-ENRICA-2 cohort followed up for 2.2 years. Malnutrition was evaluated by the screening Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) score, which consists of a short questionnaire, and a complete nutritional assessment according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Associations were summarized with odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI), obtained from logistic regression and adjusted for the main confounders.

Results: NT-proBNP was associated with higher malnutrition incidence assessed by the MNA-SF score and the GLIM criteria, with OR (95% CI) of 1.51 (1.09-2.09) and 1.43 (1.04-1.96) per one logarithmic-unit increment, respectively. Malnutrition incidence according to the GLIM criteria was also higher in participants who had elevated NT-proBNP (heart stress age-specific rule-in cutoffs) vs those who did not, with OR (95% CI) of 1.84 (1.05-3.22). hs-cTnT was not associated with higher malnutrition incidence.

Conclusions: In this cohort of older adults without CVD, NT-proBNP was associated with higher malnutrition incidence. Further research is needed to validate our findings, uncover the underlying biological mechanisms, and assess whether preventive interventions can reduce NT-proBNP concentrations and, consequently, reduce the risk of malnutrition.