Background: B-type natriuretic peptides are excellent markers of cardiac function and are strong prognostic parameters in patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure. We examined the diagnostic and prognostic value of natriuretic peptides in a heterogeneous group of patients of a cardiological university hospital.
Methods: NT-pro-BNP was assessed in 573 inpatients (66 % male, median age 66 years) and association with demographic and cardiological parameters, in-hospital course as well as the combined endpoint of death, heart failure hospitalization and stroke was analyzed during a median follow-up time of 1117 days.
Results: NT-pro-BNP was significantly associated with age, diastolic blood pressure, renal function, previous myocardial infarction, arterial occlusive disease, atrial fibrillation, NYHA class and left-ventricular dysfunction. Differentiation of distinct cardiac diseases by NT-pro-BNP was not possible. NT-pro-BNP identified patients with a length of hospital stay of more than 12 days with a sensitivity of 88,2 % and a negative predictive value of 97 %. Supramedian NT-pro-BNP values (> 300 pg/ml) indicated a relative risk for the combined endpoint of 7,5 (95 % CI 4,1 - 13,8) compared to inframedian NT-pro-BNP values. Prognostic value of NT-pro-BNP was independent of and stronger than demographic and cardiological risk markers.
Conclusion: NT-pro-BNP is a strong and independent predictor of in-hospital course and long-term outcome in inpatients with cardiovascular disease. NT-pro-BNP assessment allows a risk-adapted patient management for non-cardiologists.