Abstract
The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally and longitudinally examine whether higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels within the normal variation associate with key components of metabolic syndrome and total and cardiovascular mortality. The study included 967 Finnish subjects (age 40–59 years) followed for ≥ 20 years. The focus was on Hb levels, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mortality rates. Higher Hb levels associated positively with key anthropometric and metabolic parameters at baseline. At the follow-up similar associations were seen in men. The highest Hb quartile showed higher leptin levels and lower adiponectin levels at baseline and follow-up (p < 0.05) and lower plasma ghrelin levels at baseline (p < 0.05). Higher baseline Hb levels associated independently with prevalence of type 2 diabetes at follow-up (p < 0.01). The highest Hb quartile associated with higher serum alanine aminotransferase levels (p < 0.001) and independently with increased risk for liver fat accumulation (OR 1.63 [1.03; 2.57]) at baseline. The highest Hb quartile showed increased risk for total (HR = 1.48 [1.01; 2.16]) and CVD-related mortality (HR = 2.08 [1.01; 4.29]). Higher Hb levels associated with an adverse metabolic profile, increased prevalence of key components of metabolic syndrome and higher risk for CVD-related and total mortality.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally and longitudinally examine whether higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels within the normal variation associate with key components of metabolic syndrome and total and cardiovascular mortality
The aims of this study were (1) to assess cross-sectionally the associations between Hb levels and some 20 key metabolic parameters, obesity-related peptides and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) measurements in middleage and senescence, (2) evaluate in a cross-sectional design Hb levels as a risk factor for fatty liver disease, and in a longitudinal design evaluate the role of Hb levels (3) in prediction of the development of impaired glucose metabolism and (4) as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) events and -related mortality and total mortality
We examined the association of Hb levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters in a longitudinal design at two timepoints; baseline at 40–59 years of age, average age 51 years and follow-up at 63–83 years of age, average age 72 years (Fig. 1, Tables S1-S3)
Summary
The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally and longitudinally examine whether higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels within the normal variation associate with key components of metabolic syndrome and total and cardiovascular mortality. Higher baseline Hb levels associated independently with prevalence of type 2 diabetes at follow-up (p < 0.01). The highest Hb quartile associated with higher serum alanine aminotransferase levels (p < 0.001) and independently with increased risk for liver fat accumulation (OR 1.63 [1.03; 2.57]) at baseline. Higher Hb levels associated with an adverse metabolic profile, increased prevalence of key components of metabolic syndrome and higher risk for CVD-related and total mortality. MetS is defined as a group of metabolic disorders which increases the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and total mortality. Hb levels can be elevated by factors such as smoking, a well-known risk factor for metabolic diseases and higher Hb levels are observed in obesity, which likewise is a well-known risk factor for cardiometabolic d iseases[1,2]
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