Growth Differentiation Factor 15 as a Marker for Chronic Ventricular Pacing

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Right ventricular pacing is an effective and safe treatment option for patients experiencing symptomatic bradycardia. However, some individuals may develop left ventricular dysfunction as a consequence. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), which is not present in a healthy adult heart, is upregulated in cardiomyocytes in response to various stress stimuli. This study aimed to explore the potential of GDF-15 as a biomarker for chronic right ventricular pacing. <b>Methods:</b> This single-center cross-sectional cohort study analyzed data from 265 consecutive patients (60.4% male) with either single- or dual-chamber pacemakers, all lacking pre-existing heart failure, who attended the outpatient department for routine follow-up. Chronic right ventricular (RV) pacing was defined as pacing exceeding 40% over the past year. Serum samples were collected, and GDF-15 levels were measured using a commercially available immunoassay (R&D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA). Student's <i>t</i>-test was utilized to assess group differences, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to evaluate diagnostic performance. <b>Results:</b> When stratifying patients by pacing burden, GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in those with pacing over 40% compared to those with 40% or less (789 ± 293 pg/mL vs. 1186 ± 592 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001). The ROC analysis indicated that GDF-15 serves as a marker for chronic RV pacing, yielding an area under the curve of 0.713 (95% confidence interval 0.650-0.776; <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study suggests that GDF-15 may be a valuable biomarker for chronic right ventricular pacing.