Comparative impact of multiple biomarkers and N-Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the context of conventional risk factors for the prediction of recurrent cardiovascular events in the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) Study.
BACKGROUND
Individual markers of inflammation may add incremental predictive value in the context of conventionally available risk factors. We evaluated the ability of 9 inflammatory biomarkers, microalbuminuria, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) to improve cardiovascular risk prediction beyond that obtained from traditional risk factors in a secondary-prevention population.


RESULTS
We measured biomarkers representing the acute-phase reaction (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and interleukin-6), proinflammatory pathways (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 and -2, soluble interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and interleukin-18), endothelial activation (soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1), Nt-proBNP, and microalbuminuria in 3199 study individuals of the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) Study and assessed their association with risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death (primary outcome, n=501) over 4.5 years of follow-up. In a backward Cox regression procedure that included risk factors and biomarkers, Nt-proBNP (hazard ratio [HR] 1.72 per increment SD, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.12; P<0.0001), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.80; P=0.0003), microalbuminuria (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.98; P=0.0004), soluble interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.61; P=0.02), and fibrinogen (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.62; P=0.02) remained significantly related to the primary outcome. Only inclusion of Nt-proBNP provided incremental information above that obtained by models of traditional risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Although levels of various inflammatory biomarkers are significantly related to future cardiovascular risk, their incremental predictive value is modest. A model consisting of simple traditional risk factors and Nt-proBNP provided the best clinical prediction in the secondary-prevention population.
Blankenberg
Stefan
S
Department of Medicine II, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
McQueen
Matthew J
MJ
Smieja
Marek
M
Pogue
Janice
J
Balion
Cynthia
C
Lonn
Eva
E
Rupprecht
Hans J
HJ
Bickel
Christoph
C
Tiret
Laurence
L
Cambien
Francois
F
Gerstein
Hertzel
H
Münzel
Thomas
T
Yusuf
Salim
S
D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017257:Ramipril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D014810:Vitamin E; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D017257:Ramipril