Browsing by Author "Bozic, Biljana (57203497573)"

Purpose: We aimed at evaluating androgen status (serum testosterone [TT] and estimated free testosterone [eFT]) and its determinants in non-diabetic elderly men with heart failure (HF). Additionally, we investigated its associations with body composition and long-term survival. Methods: Seventy three non-diabetic men with HF and 20 healthy men aged over 55years were studied. Echocardiography, 6-min walk test, grip strength, body composition measurement by DEXA method were performed. TT, sex hormone binding globulin, NT-proBNP, and adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) were measured. All-cause mortality was evaluated at six years of follow-up. Results: Androgen status (TT, eFT) was similar in elderly men with HF compared to healthy controls (4.79±1.65 vs. 4.45±1.68ng/ml and 0.409±0.277 vs. 0.350±0.204nmol/l, respectively). In HF patients, TT was positively associated with NT-proBNP (r=0.371, p =0.001) and adiponectin levels (r=0.349, p =0.002), while inverse association was noted with fat mass (r =−0.413, p <0.001). TT and eFT were independently determined by age, total fat mass and adiponectin levels in elderly men with HF (p<0.05 for all). Androgen status was not predictor for all-cause mortality at six years of follow-up. Conclusions: In non-diabetic men with HF, androgen status is not altered and is not predictive of long-term outcome. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Background Reduced peripheral muscle mass was demonstrated in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Adipokines may have potent metabolic effects on skeletal muscle. The associations between adipokines, peripheral muscle mass, and muscle function have been poorly investigated in patients with HF. Methods We measured markers of fat and bone metabolism (adiponectin, leptin, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, osteoprotegerin, RANKL), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) in 73 non-cachectic, non-diabetic, male patients with chronic HF (age: 68 ± 7 years, New York Heart Association class II/III: 76/26%, left ventricular ejection fraction 29 ± 8%) and 20 healthy controls of similar age. Lean mass as a measure of skeletal muscle mass was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), while muscle strength was assessed by hand grip strength measured by Jamar dynamometer. Results Serum levels of adiponectin, parathyroid hormone, osteoprotegerin, RANKL, and NT-pro-BNP were elevated in patients with chronic HF compared to healthy controls (all p < 0.0001), while no difference in serum levels of leptin, testosterone or SHBG was noted. Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were reduced (p = 0.002) in HF group. Peripheral lean mass and hand grip strength were reduced in patients with HF compared to healthy subjects (p = 0.006 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Using backward selection multivariable regression, serum levels of increased adiponectin remained significantly associated with reduced arm lean mass and muscle strength. Conclusions Our findings may indicate a cross-sectional metabolic association of increased serum adiponectin with reduced peripheral muscle mass and muscle strength in non-cachectic, non-diabetic, elderly HF patients. © 2013 European Federation of Internal Medicine.