The Association of Aging Biomarkers, Interstitial Lung Abnormalities, and Mortality

The association between aging and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has been established. The associations between aging-related biomarkers and interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) have not been comprehensively evaluated. To evaluate the associations among aging biomarkers, ILA, and all-cause mortality. In the FHS (Framingham Heart Study), we evaluated associations among plasma biomarkers (IL-6, CRP [C-reactive protein], TNFR [tumor necrosis factor α receptor II], GDF15 [growth differentiation factor 15], cystatin-C, HGBA1C [Hb A1C], insulin, IGF1 [insulin-like growth factor 1], and IGFBP1 [IGF binding protein 1] and IGFBP3]), ILA, and mortality. Causal inference analysis was used to determine whether biomarkers mediated age. GDF15 results were replicated in the COPDGene (Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Study. In the FHS, there were higher odds of ILA per increase in natural log-transformed GDF15 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 3.4 [1.8-6.4]; = 0.0002), TNFR (3.1 [1.6-5.8]; = 0.004), IL-6 (1.8 [1.4-2.4];