Anaemia is associated with shorter leucocyte telomere length in patients with chronic heart failure

Liza S M Wong, Jardi Huzen, Pim van der Harst, Rudolf A de Boer, Veryan Codd, B Daan Westenbrink, Germaine F J D Benus, Adriaan A Voors, Wiek H van Gilst, Nilesh J Samani, Tiny Jaarsma, Dirk J van Veldhuisen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

AIMS: Anaemia is highly prevalent and associated with poor prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Reduced erythroid proliferation capacity of haematopoietic progenitor cells is associated with reduced telomere length, a marker of cellular ageing. We hypothesize that short telomere length contributes to the susceptibility to develop anaemia in patients with CHF.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 875 CHF patients, of whom 254 (29%) fulfilled the WHO criteria of anaemia. Telomere length in DNA from peripheral leucocytes was measured with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Age, gender, and baseline differences adjusted telomere length was correlated with haemoglobin levels (partial r = 0.130; P = 0.011). One standard deviation shorter telomere length was associated with an increased risk of having anaemia [odds ratio (OR), 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-1.53; P = 0.001]. This observation was not affected by adjustment for potential confounders (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.05-1.81; P = 0.021 after adjustment for age, gender, erythropoietin levels, renal function, left ventricular ejection fraction, age of CHF onset, blood pressure, history of stroke, diabetes, and B-type natriuretic peptide levels).

CONCLUSION: Shorter telomere length increases the odds of having anaemia in CHF patients. This finding supports the hypothesis that cellular ageing in CHF contributes to the susceptibility to develop anaemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)348-53
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anemia/etiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Heart Failure/complications
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes/pathology
  • Linear Models
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke Volume
  • Telomere/ultrastructure
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Function, Left

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Anaemia is associated with shorter leucocyte telomere length in patients with chronic heart failure'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this