Moertl Deddo, Hammer Alexandra, Huelsmann Martin, Pacher Richard, Berger Rudolf
Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2008 Apr;10(4):404-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ejheart.2008.02.018. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
We evaluated the prognostic value of sequential NT-proBNP values in ambulatory heart failure patients after discharge, investigating whether the current value or the recent percent change is more important.
In 166 patients, NT-proBNP was measured at discharge from heart failure hospitalisation and three months later. The combined endpoint of death or heart failure rehospitalisation was evaluated after a maximum of 18 months or at follow-up closure. During a mean observation time of 14+/-4 months, 63 patients (38%) reached the endpoint. In multiple Cox analysis, NT-proBNP three months after discharge (NT-proBNP-3Mo) and NT-proBNP percent change (NT-proBNP-%change) were the only independent predictors of the endpoint among various clinical and laboratory variables. After definition of a high- (n=83, 57% endpoints) and a low-NT-proBNP patient subgroup (n=83, 19% endpoints) according to the median NT-proBNP-3Mo (1751 pg/ml), NT-proBNP-%change was the strongest predictor in the high-NT-proBNP subgroup. In the low-NT-proBNP subgroup, NT-proBNP-3Mo was the only independent predictor.
In ambulatory heart failure patients, the prognostic value of sequential NT-proBNP measurements depends on the magnitude of the current NT-proBNP value. Recent percent changes in NT-proBNP provide important prognostic information in patients with high NT-proBNP but not in patients with low NT-proBNP.
