Hemoglobin as a response marker of endothelial cell damage in elderly non-overweight non-anemic subjects.

Abstract

An independent positive correlation between hemoglobin level and risk of hypertension has been reported for non-anemic non-overweight men and women. Additionally, serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) concentration in hypertensive subjects was reported to be significantly higher than in normotensive subjects. However no studies have reported on the correlation between hemoglobin and HGF. A cross-sectional study of 695 elderly non-overweight non-anemic Japanese subjects (231 men and 464 women; range 60-92 years old; Body mass index (BMI) < 25kg/m²; Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 13g/dL for men and Hb ≥ 12g/dL for women) who were undergoing general health checkups in 2014 was conducted. Multiple linear regression analysis adjustment for classical cardiovascular risk factors showed a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and serum HGF concentration (parameter estimate (β) =31.8, P < 0.001) for men and (β=21.7, P < 0.001) for women. An independent positive correlation between hemoglobin and HGF was observed in elderly non-anemic non-overweight Japanese subjects. Since HGF level may become elevated in response to endothelial cell damage (vascular remodeling), these findings suggest that measuring hemoglobin level is clinically relevant for estimating the response to endothelial cell damage.