Effects of Age, Sex, and Obesity on N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations in the General Population

Background: Data regarding complex relationships between age, sex, obesity and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) remain scarce. Thus, we investigated sex-specific associations of obesity and NT-proBNP levels among adults in the general healthy population in Korea. Methods and Results: The associations of age, sex and obesity-associated parameters (waist circumference [WC], body mass index [BMI] and body weight) with NT-proBNP were analyzed in 39,937 healthy adult participants. Multivariable regression models adjusted for factors known to affect NT-proBNP were used to identify associations between NT-proBNP and obesity-related parameters. NT-proBNP levels were higher in females than males. Older age was also associated with higher NT-proBNP levels in the overall population (P<0.001). When accounting for age in multivariable linear regression models, there was a strong inverse association between WC, BMI, and NT-proBNP in females and a weaker inverse association in males, with a significant difference between the sexes (P interaction <0.001). After adjusting for the effects of WC and BMI on each other, abdominal obesity was associated with lower NT-proBNP levels in females but not males (P interaction <0.001). Conclusions: In this large sample of young and healthy Asians, younger age, male sex, and increases in obesity-related parameters were related to lower levels of NT-proBNP. Further comprehensive studies are needed to understand the factors affecting NT-proBNP levels in different populations.

Automated summary

The study investigated the relationship between age, sex, obesity, and NT-proBNP levels, finding that NT-proBNP levels were higher in females compared to males and increased with older age. Strong inverse associations between waist circumference, body mass index, and NT-proBNP were observed in females, with a weaker association in males and a significant difference between the sexes. Abdominal obesity was associated with lower NT-proBNP levels in females but not males after adjusting for the effects of waist circumference and body mass index on each other. Further comprehensive studies are needed to understand the factors affecting NT-proBNP levels in different populations.