N-Terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide testing for short-term prognosis in breathless older adults.
BACKGROUND
Amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is useful for the triage of patients with dyspnea. Our aim was to determine whether NT-proBNP levels could predict in-hospital outcome in breathless elderly patients.


METHODS
At admission, NT-proBNP plasma concentrations were determined in 324 dyspneic patients aged 75 years and older. The association between NT-proBNP values and in-hospital mortality was assessed.


RESULTS
Median NT-proBNP concentrations were not different in deceased patients (n = 43, 13%) compared to that of survivors (n = 281, 87%) (4354 vs 2499 pg/mL, respectively; P = .06). To predict in-hospital mortality, the optimum threshold of NT-proBNP was 3855 pg/mL, as defined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, with a nonsignificant area under the ROC curve of 0.59. Mortality was significantly higher in patients (n = 139) with NT-proBNP levels 3855 pg/mL or higher (17.9% vs 9.7%, P = .045). After multivariate analysis, NT-proBNP level 3855 pg/mL or higher at admission was predictive of mortality (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-5.68; P = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
NT-proBNP higher than 3855 pg/mL is associated with in-hospital mortality in patients aged 75 years and older admitted for dyspnea.
Chenevier-Gobeaux
Camille
C
Department of Biochemistry A, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris Cedex 14, France.
Allo
Jean-Christophe
JC
Arthaud
Martine
M
Achkar
R
R
Claessens
Yan-Eric
YE
Ekindjian
O G
OG
Riou
Bruno
B
Ray
Patrick
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000401:mortality*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019210:Troponin I; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain