Ojo con el Bnp

BNP Predicts Mortality Similarly in Patients With and Without Heart Failure

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH

Elevated circulating B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is one of the strongest predictors of death in patients with and without heart failure (HF), according to a retrospective study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Researchers examined the health records of over 30,000 adults who had a first plasma BNP measurement between 2002 and 2013 at one medical center. Of these, 38% had HF at the time of BNP measurement.

During 90,000 person-years' follow-up, elevated BNP was the strongest predictor of death in patients without HF, and the second strongest predictor (after age) in those with HF. Additionally, the mortality risk with any BNP level was similar in those with and without HF. For example, for a BNP level of 400 pg/mL, 3-year mortality was 21% in those with HF and 19% in those without HF.

Editorialists say the study confirms BNP's predictive power and "raises an important question about what to do for patients with an elevated BNP level in the absence of overt HF."

JACC article (Free abstract)

JACC editorial (Subscription required)

Background: NEJM Journal Watch Cardiology coverage of BNP screening (Free)

Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock

Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

4000-1054

2101-9574

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