Obesity is associated with pathological cardiac remodeling and risk of
heart failure (HF).
Adipocytokines (ADKs) may mediate the increased risk of
cardiovascular disease associated with excess adiposity. Yet data relating ADKs to cardiac remodeling phenotypes are sparse. We related two circulating ADKs,
resistin and
adiponectin, to three important echocardiographic markers of cardiac
remodeling, left ventricular mass (LVM), left atrial diameter (LAD), and LV fractional shortening (LVFS) in 2,615 participants (mean age 61 years, 55% women) in the Framingham Offspring Study.
Adiponectin concentrations were inversely related to LVM in multivariable linear regression models adjusting for key clinical correlates including BMI (regression coefficient per s.d.-increment in ln-
adiponectin = -3.37, P = 0.02; P for trend across quartiles = 0.02).
Adiponectin was not associated with LAD or LVFS (P > 0.56).
Resistin concentrations were inversely related to LVFS (regression coefficient per s.d.-increment in ln-
resistin = -0.01, P = 0.03; P for trend across quartiles = 0.04).
Resistin was not associated with LVM or LAD (P > 0.05). In our moderate-sized, community-based sample, higher circulating concentrations of
adiponectin and
resistin were associated with lower LVM and lower LVFS, respectively. In conclusion, these associations identify potential mechanisms by which excess adiposity may mediate adverse cardiac remodeling and HF risk.