Abstract 10208: Differences in Natriuretic Peptide Levels by Race/Ethnicity in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: Natriuretic peptides (NP) are cardiac-derived hormones with favorable cardio-metabolic actions including natriuresis, diuresis, and vasodilation. Low NP levels have been associated with increased risks of hypertension and diabetes, conditions with variable prevalence by race/ethnicity. Heritable factors underlie a significant proportion of the inter-individual variation in NP levels, but the specific influence of ancestry is unknown. Methods: In 4,162 individuals (40% White, 24% Black, 23% Hispanic, and 13% Chinese) without prevalent cardiovascular disease at baseline (2000-2002) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, multivariable adjusted linear regression and restricted cubic splines were used to examine differences in serum N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels according to self-reported race/ethnicity or ancestry determined from genetic ancestry informative markers. Results: NT-proBNP levels were significantly lower in Black and Chinese individuals than in White individuals, and were intermediate in Hispanics (Figure 1). Self-identified Blacks and Hispanics were the most genetically admixed groups. Among individuals self-identified as Black, a 1 standard deviation (14%) increase in genetic European ancestry was associated with 8% higher (95%CI, 1 to 16%) NT-proBNP. Among Hispanic individuals, genetic European ancestry was also positively associated with NT-proBNP levels, while African ancestry was negatively associated with NT-proBNP (Figure 2). Conclusions: NP levels differ substantially according to race/ethnicity, with the lowest levels among Black and Chinese individuals. Racial/ethnic differences in NP levels appear to have a genetic basis, with European and African ancestry associated with higher and lower NT-proBNP levels, respectively. Relatively low NP levels may, in part, contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in cardio-metabolic disease susceptibility.