journal articles
CARNITINE INSUFFICIENCY IS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION
Y. Kinugasa, S. Sugihara, K. Yamada, M. Miyagi, K. Matsubara, M. Kato, K. Yamamoto
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2016;5(4):187-193
Background: L-carnitine is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in fatty acid energy metabolism of the heart and skeletal muscles. Primary or secondary carnitine insufficiency contributes to progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction and physical frailty. However, the clinical features of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and carnitine insufficiency remain unclear. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Tottori University hospital. Participants: 117 patients who were hospitalized with HFpEF (ejection fraction ≥45%). Measurement: All measurements were obtained at hospital discharge. Carnitine insufficiency was defined as the lowest quantile of free carnitine level (<56.3 μmol/L) or the highest quantile of acylcarnitine to free carnitine ratio (≥0.35). Nutritional status and physical activity were assessed by the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Barthel index (BI). Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed by echocardiography. The composite endpoints were hospitalization for heart failure and death from cardiac causes. Results: Patients with carnitine insufficiency (44.4%) had lower values of GNRI and BI, higher B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and lower early diastolic mitral annular velocity in the subgroups with sinus rhythm compared with those with preserved carnitine (all p<0.05). During a mean follow-up of 472±249 days, composite endpoints occurred in 26.5% of patients. Multivariate Cox hazard analysis showed that carnitine insufficiency was an independent predictor of cardiac events (p<0.05). Conclusions: Carnitine insufficiency is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with HFpEF.
CITATION:
Y. Kinugasa ; S. Sugihara ; K. Yamada ; M. Miyagi ; K. Matsubara ; M. Kato ; K. Yamamoto (2016): Carnitine Insufficiency is Associated with Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. The Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice (JARCP). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jarcp.2016.116