title: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels predict newly detected atrial fibrillation in a population-based cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is secreted from cardiomyocytes and may reflect haemodynamic abnormalities predisposing to atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate whether N-terminal pro BNP (NT-proBNP) is associated with newly detected AF in subjects obtained from the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the PREVEND programme (n=8592), we selected all subjects with an available baseline and four-year electrocardiogram and NTproBNP levels at baseline. We excluded subjects with AF at baseline and subjects with a serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dl.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 6494 subjects were eligible for the prospective analysis (aged 49+/-12 years, 49.7% men). At four years, AF was detected in 41 (0.6%) subjects. Median NT-proBNP levels at baseline in subjects with newly detected AF after four years was 62.2 (22.6 to 208.5) pg/ml as compared with 35.7 (15.9 to 68.7) pg/ml in those with sinus rhythm (p=0.001). Each 1 standard deviation increment in natural log transformed NT-proBNP was associated with a 54% (5% to 126%, p=0.028) increase in risk for AF after adjustment for other risk factors predisposing to AF. NT-proBNP levels above the sex-specific 80th percentile (97 pg/ml in women and 60 pg/ml in men) were associated with a multivariate odds ratio of 2.65 (1.22 to 5.76, p=0.01) for the occurrence of AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma levels of NT-proBNP predict newly detected AF in subjects obtained from the general population independent of cardiovascular risk factors predisposing to AF. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:73-8.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Asselbergs
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Signorovitch
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hillege
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Gilst
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen