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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Lower vitamin D levels and higher C-reactive protein levels are associated with poor aerobic capacity and greater frailty in elderly patients with heart failure, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
Hormones and proteins that respond to inflammation have been identified as contributors to the decline in function and frailty that occurs in patients with heart failure, Dr. Rebecca S. Boxer, of Case Western Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and colleagues explain. They hypothesized that factors known to affect muscle health, such as testosterone and vitamin D, and biomarkers of inflammation, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and IL-6, will predict function and frailty in these patients.
To investigate, the researchers measured 6-minute walk distance and frailty in 60 patients suffering from heart failure. Forty-three subjects were men (average age 77 years) and 17 were women (average age 78 years).
A correlation was seen between a longer 6-minute walk distance and higher vitamin D levels, and lower hsCRP and IL-6 levels. No correlation was found with percentage of free testosterone.
Conversely, a higher frailty score, indicating greater frailty, correlated with higher hsCRP and IL-6 levels, and lower vitamin D levels.
On further analysis, age, sex, vitamin D, and hsCRP were each independently associated with 6-minute walk distance; and age, vitamin D, and hsCRP were predictive of frailty status.
The authors note that treatments geared toward raising vitamin D and lowering CRP levels in heart failure patients are possible. However, is it not known if vitamin D therapy would be effective in these patients.
If vitamin D therapy does improve physical performance and reduce the inflammatory response, this could be "an attractive therapy" for patients with heart failure, the researchers conclude.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Geriatric Society, March 2008.
