The influence of sex and body mass index on the association between soluble neprilysin and risk of heart failure hospitalizations.

Autores de INCLIVA

• 

  Julio Nuñez Villota

  Autor

• Gema Miñana Escriva

  Autor

• 

  Vicent Bodí Peris

  Autor

• 

  Juan Sanchis Fores

  Autor

Participantes ajenos a INCLIVA

• Nunez, Eduardo
• Revuelta-Lopez, Elena
• Barallat, Jaume
• Aimo, Alberto
• Emdin, Michele
• Lupon, Josep
• Husser, Oliver
• Bayes-Genis, Antoni

Grupos y Plataformas de I+D+i

• Grupo de investigación en Cardiología Clínica

  

  Leading Researcher

  Juan Sanchis Fores

• Grupo de Investigación en Insuficiencia Cardiaca

  

  Established Researcher

  Julio Nuñez Villota

• Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Cardiopatía Isquémica

  

  Leading Researcher

  Vicent Bodí Peris

Abstract

A higher neprilysin activity has been suggested in women. In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated the association of sex and body mass index (BMI) with soluble neprilysin (sNEP) and recurrent admissions among 1021 consecutive HF outpatients. The primary and secondary endpoints were the number of HF hospitalizations and all-cause mortality, respectively. The association between sNEP with either endpoint was evaluated across sex and BMI categories (= 25 kg/m(2) vs. < 25 kg/m(2)). Bivariate count regression (Poisson) was used, and risk estimates were expressed as incidence rates ratio (IRR). During a median follow-up of 6.65 years (percentile 25%-percentile 75%:2.83-10.25), 702 (68.76%) patients died, and 406 (40%) had at least 1 HF hospitalization. Median values of sNEP and BMI were 0.64 ng/mL (0.39-1.22), and 26.9 kg/m(2) (24.3-30.4), respectively. Left ventricle ejection fraction was < 40% in 78.9% of patients, and 28% were women. In multivariable analysis, sNEP (main effect) was positively associated with HF hospitalizations (p = 0.001) but not with mortality (p = 0.241). The predictive value of sNEP for HF hospitalizations varied non-linearly across sex and BMI categories (p-value for interaction = 0.003), with significant and positive effect only on women with BMI = 25 kg/m(2) (p = 0.039). For instance, compared to men, women with sNEP of 1.22 ng/mL (percentile 75%) showed a significantly increased risk (IRRs: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.05-1.53). The interaction analysis for mortality did not support a differential prognostic effect for sNEP (p = 0.072). In conclusion, higher sNEP levels in overweight women better predicted an increased risk of HF hospitalization.