title: B-type natriuretic peptide and the prediction of outcome in patients admitted to intensive care.
abstract: B-type natriuretic peptide is known to predict outcome in congestive cardiac failure and myocardial infarction. We aimed to determine whether measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide would predict hospital mortality in patients admitted to an intensive care unit. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study in 78 consecutive patients. Demographics, clinical details and clinical outcomes were recorded. Admission and 24 h B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin I levels were measured. B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin I levels taken on intensive care admission and 24 h after admission did not accurately predict hospital mortality for all patients, including patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (all p > 0.05). B-type natriuretic peptide levels were higher in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock (p = 0.02), in patients > or = 65 years (p = 0.04) and in patients with raised creatinine > or = 110 micromol.l(-1) (p = 0.02). We concluded that B-type natriuretic peptide, measured soon after admission to intensive care, does not usefully predict outcome after intensive care.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Scotland. b.h.cuthbertson@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Cuthbertson
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Croal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hillis
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019210:Troponin I; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D003404:Creatinine