Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
8-25-2025
Journal
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
DOI
10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf018
PMID
39820727
PMCID
PMC12264026
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-16-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Aims: Hepcidin regulates plasma and tissue iron levels. We studied the association of hepcidin levels with the risk of incident heart failure (HF) and cardiac dysfunction in older adults.
Methods and results: We included adults from the ongoing, longitudinal Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, who were free from prevalent anaemia and HF at Visit 5 (2011-13) and had available hepcidin and covariate data. Associations of plasma hepcidin levels with overall adjudicated incident HF, HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Cross-sectional associations of hepcidin with echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function were estimated using multivariable linear regression models. The mean age was 75 ± 5 years old, and 56% were women. In fully adjusted models, lower hepcidin levels were associated with a higher risk of overall incident HF [hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval (CI) per 50% lower hepcidin]: 1.15 [1.05-1.26]; P = 0.003] and HFpEF [HR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.10-1.42); P = 0.001]. Plasma hepcidin level was not significantly associated with the risk of incident HFrEF [HR (95% CI): 1.08 (0.94-1.24); P = 0.30]. Lower hepcidin levels were associated with higher E wave (P = 0.046), higher E/e' ratio (P = 0.002), higher left atrial volume index (P = 0.005), and higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure (P = 0.02).
Conclusion: In community-dwelling older adults without anaemia, lower plasma hepcidin levels associate with a higher risk of incident HF (particularly HFpEF) and diastolic dysfunction.
Keywords
Humans, Hepcidins, Female, Aged, Heart Failure, Male, Biomarkers, United States, Incidence, Cross-Sectional Studies, Stroke Volume, Risk Factors, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Age Factors, Aged, 80 and over, Ventricular Function, Left, Longitudinal Studies, Heart failure, Iron deficiency, Hepcidin, Ageing
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Aboelsaad, Iman A F; Claggett, Brian L; Lamberson, Victoria; et al., "Hepcidin, Incident Heart Failure, and Cardiac Dysfunction in Older Adults: The Aric Study" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 1363.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthsph_docs/1363
Graphical Abstract