Good hydration may reduce long-term risks of heart failure: Study

More than 2% of the population, suffer from heart failure, a chronic ailment that occurs when the heart fails to pump enough blood for the body’s needs. It is also more prevalent in adults 65 and older.

Staying hydrated may be linked to a lower chance of getting heart failure. According to new research findings, consuming adequate amounts of fluids throughout life not only promotes basic bodily functioning but may also lower the chance of severe heart problems in the future.

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The study was published in the journal ‘European Heart Journal.’

More than 6.2 million Americans, or slightly more than 2% of the population, suffer from heart failure, a chronic ailment that occurs when the heart fails to pump enough blood for the body’s needs. It is also more prevalent in persons 65 and older.

“Similar to reducing salt intake, drinking enough water and staying hydrated are ways to support our hearts and may help reduce long-term risks for heart disease,” said Natalia Dmitrieva, PhD, the lead study author and a researcher in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of NIH.

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Dmitrieva and colleagues sought comparable linkages in large-scale population studies after performing preclinical research that revealed links between dehydration and cardiac fibrosis, a hardening of the heart muscles.

They began by evaluating data from nearly 15,000 adults between the ages of 45 and 66 who participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study between 1987 and 1989 and contributed information from medical visits throughout a 25-year period.

The scientists chose participants for their retrospective review based on those who had normal hydration levels and were not suffering from diabetes, obesity, or heart failure at the start of the trial. The final analysis included 11,814 adults, and the researchers discovered that 1,366 (11.56%) of them suffered heart failure later in life.

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The researchers investigated the hydration state of the subjects using multiple clinical indicators to assess potential correlations with hydration. Looking at blood sodium levels, which rise when the body’s fluid levels fall, was notably helpful in identifying people who were at a higher risk of developing heart failure.

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It also assisted in identifying older adults who were at a higher risk of developing both heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy, which is an enlargement and thickening of the heart.

Adults with serum sodium levels beginning at 143 milliequivalents per litre (mEq/L) in midlife – a normal range is 135-146 mEq/L – had a 39% greater risk of having heart failure compared to adults with lower levels. Furthermore, with every 1 mEq/L rise in serum sodium within the normal range of 135-146 mEq/L, the risk of having heart failure increased by 5%.

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Those with blood sodium levels of 142.5-143 mEq/L at middle age were 62% more likely to develop left ventricular hypertrophy in a cohort of around 5,000 adults ages 70-90. Serum sodium levels of 143 mEq/L were associated with a 102% greater risk of left ventricular hypertrophy and a 54% increased risk of heart failure.

The authors concluded that serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L in middle age are related to an increased risk of developing left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure later in life.

According to the researchers, a randomised, controlled experiment will be required to confirm these early findings.

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However, these preliminary findings indicate that adequate hydration may help prevent or reduce the course of alterations within the heart that might lead to heart failure.

“Serum sodium and fluid intake can easily be assessed in clinical exams and help doctors identify patients who may benefit from learning about ways to stay hydrated,” said Manfred Boehm, M.D., who leads the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine.

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Fluids are required for a variety of body processes, including assisting the heart inefficiently pumping blood, sustaining blood vessel function, and orchestrating circulation. Despite this, many people consume significantly less than they require, according to experts.