Sex-specific associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and galectin-3 in the general population.

Abstract

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with greater mortality and morbidity. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a prognostic biomarker for fibrosis and heart failure. Gal-3 is also associated with a greater risk for cardiovascular mortality. Whether CRF is related with Gal-3 is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the sex-specific associations of CRF and Gal-3 levels in the general population. Gal-3 concentrations were determined using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND-0). Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age, current smoking status, and renal function were used. Individuals with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, previous myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, chronic lung disease, severe renal disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30mL/min/mm2 ), a history of cancer, and extreme values for Gal-3 (<1st percentile; >99th percentile) were excluded. A total of n=1515 participants with a median age of 49 (IQR: 39-60years, 48% males) were included. In men, a 1L/min greater VO2 peak was significantly related to 0.50ng/mL (95% CI -0.8068 to -0.1938, P<0.01) less Gal-3. In males, a 1mL/min/kg higher VO2 peak adjusted for body weight was associated with -0.0286ng/mL (95% CI -0.0052 to -0.0005, P=0.02) less Gal-3. When VO2 peak was adjusted for lean mass 1mL/kg/min more was correlated with a -0.0022ng/mL (95% CI -0.0043 to -0.0007, P=0.04) less Gal-3. In women, VO2 peak (β -0.2046 95% CI -0.6541 to 0.2449, P=0.37) and VO2 peak adjusted for lean mass (β -0.0019 95% CI -0.0421 to -0.0050, P=0.12) were not related with Gal-3, whereas a 1mL/min/kg higher VO2 peak adjusted for body weight was significantly associated with a -0.0064ng/mL lower Gal-3 (95% CI -0.0092 to -0.0035, P<0.01). There were no differences between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. VO2 peak was associated with Gal-3 only in men, but VO2 peak adjusted for body weight in women and men. Our results suggest that the adverse consequences of low CRF may be mediated by Gal-3. Further research is needed to understand the sex-specific association between CRF and Gal-3 and whether they are clinically relevant.