Table 1.
Characteristics (mean ± SD or N [%]) by Quartile of GDF-11, Health ABC
| Quartile 1 | Quartile 2 | Quartile 3 | Quartile 4 | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <2.97 ng/mL | ≥2.97–<3.17 ng/mL | ≥3.17–< 3.44ng/mL | ≥3.44 ng/mL | ||
| N = 297 | N = 311 | N = 314 | N = 315 | ||
| Age | 73.4 ± 2.8 | 73.5 ± 2.9 | 73.1 ± 2.8 | 73.7 ± 2.9 | .035 |
| Male | 150 (50.5) | 157 (50.5) | 164 (52.2) | 158 (50.2) | .954 |
| Race | |||||
| White | 201 (67.7) | 194 (62.4) | 188 (59.9) | 176 (55.9) | .024 |
| Black | 96 (32.3) | 117 (37.6) | 126 (40.1) | 139 (44.1) | |
| Other | |||||
| Weight, kg | 75.5 ± 14.1 | 75.0 ± 15.3 | 77.4 ± 16.0 | 75.0 ± 14.5 | .150 |
| Height, m | 1.66 ± 0.09 | 1.67 ± 0.09 | 1.68 ± 0.10 | 1.66 ± 0.09 | .139 |
| BMI category | .453 | ||||
| Normal weight | 90 (30.3) | 116 (37.3) | 101 (32.2) | 95 (30.2) | |
| Overweight | 136 (45.8) | 121 (38.9) | 134 (42.7) | 145 (46.0) | |
| Obese | 71 (23.9) | 74 (23.8) | 79 (25.2) | 75 (23.8) | |
| Total body fat, % | 35.3 ± 7.6 | 34.2 ± 7.7 | 34.6 ± 7.3 | 34.3 ± 7.7 | .334 |
| Persistent severe mobility limitation | 131 (44.1) | 121 (38.9) | 129 (41.1) | 129 (41.0) | .632 |
| Persistent mobility limitation | 234 (78.8) | 226 (72.7) | 240 (76.4) | 258 (81.9) | .043 |
| Current smoker | 33 (11.2) | 22 (7.1) | 39 (12.4) | 29 (9.2) | .128 |
| Current drinker | 155 (52.4) | 167 (54.1) | 158 (50.6) | 160 (50.8) | .814 |
| Good/excellent self-rated health | 258 (86.9) | 268 (86.5) | 267 (85.0) | 267 (84.8) | .846 |
| Congestive heart failure | 7 (2.4) | 6 (2.0) | 12 (3.9) | 6 (2.0) | .368 |
| Cancer | 63 (21.2) | 60 (19.3) | 68 (21.7) | 64 (20.3) | .891 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasea | 2 (0.7) | 4 (1.3) | 1 (0.3) | 5 (1.6) | .357 |
| Coronary heart disease | 52 (17.5) | 66 (21.2) | 69 (22.0) | 57 (18.1) | .408 |
| Angina | 26 (8.9) | 35 (11.6) | 38 (12.5) | 24 (7.7) | .158 |
| Grip strength, kg | 32.8 ± 10.33 | 32.88 ± 10.45 | 34.1 ± 10.97 | 33.4 ± 11.04 | .407 |
| GDF-8, ng/mL | 6.60 ± 2.13 | 6.72 ± 1.74 | 6.63 ± 1.76 | 6.96 ± 2.18 | .097 |
| Follistatin, pg/mL | 1 915.8 ± 770.7 | 1 900.4 ± 858.2 | 1 936.5 ± 1 109.0 | 1 751.3 ± 699.5 | .094 |
| Follistatin-like protein-3, pg/mL | 8 813.8 ± 2 223.0 | 8 663.3 ± 2 465.9 | 8 623.5 ± 2 369.2 | 8 879.3 ± 2 268.4 | .493 |
| 6-m walk speed, m/s | 1.17 ± 0.22 | 1.21 ± 0.23 | 1.21 ± 0.24 | 1.18 ± 0.23 | .051 |
| Appendicular lean mass/height2 | 7.57 ± 1.34 | 7.65 ± 1.42 | 7.75 ± 1.39 | 7.66 ± 1.4 | .476 |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate | 72.9 ± 18.3 | 74.2 ± 18.5 | 72.7 ± 19.1 | 73.6 ±- 17.8 | .742 |
Notes: BMI = body mass index; CHS = Cardiovascular Health Study; Health ABC = Health, Aging, and Body Composition study; GDF = growth and differentiation factor; SD = standard deviation.
aDefined as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Health ABC and chronic bronchitis in CHS.