B-type natriuretic peptide testing is associated with reduced cost in patients with secondary diagnosis of heart failure.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to examine the effect of BNP use on resource utilization and clinical outcome in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF).


METHODS
Details of all (1788) hospital discharges over 12 months with ICD-9 code 428.x diagnosis were matched to the laboratory and echocardiography databases. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analysis were performed using use of BNP testing, number of secondary diagnoses, sex, age, financial status, cardiology care, performance of echocardiography as dependent variables to predict length of stay, payable amount and discharge status in separate HF as primary and HF as secondary diagnosis groups.


RESULTS
Use of BNP measurement was associated with an average $ Singapore 1305 (p=0.007) decrease in payable amount in patients with secondary diagnosis of HF when controlled for other variables. Its use was associated with reduced use of echocardiography in both primary (odds ratio: 0.04) and secondary (OR: 0.08) diagnosis groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of BNP measurement was associated with reduced cost of hospitalization in patients with a secondary diagnosis of HF and with reduced use of echocardiography in heart failure patients. This suggests the potential of BNP measurement to reduce costs for the many patients whose multiple problems include HF.
Hawkins
Robert C
RC
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore. Robert_Hawkins@ttsh.com.sg
Chung
Kenneth Ng Kwan
KN
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood* / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain