title: Additive prognostic value of NT-proBNP over TIMI risk score in intermediate-risk patients with acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for further risk stratification of intermediate-risk patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 137 intermediate-risk patients (85 men, 52 women; mean age 62+/-11 years) with ACS, based on the TIMI risk score (scores 3 to 5). Serum NT-proBNP levels were measured 12 hours after the last anginal episode. The patients were divided into four groups according to the following NT-proBNP quartiles: 17-310 pg/ml (n=34), 313-688 pg/ml (n=35), 724-2,407 pg/ml (n=34), and 2,575-24,737 pg/ml (n=34). Primary endpoint of the study was mortality. The mean follow-up was 21.8+/-7.1 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 27 deaths (19.7%), 14 of which were in the 4th quartile (4th vs 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quartiles: p=0.02, p=0.01, and p<0.01, respectively). The first three quartiles did not differ significantly in this respect. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients in the 4th quartile had the lowest cumulative survival (log rank test, 4th vs 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quartiles: p=0.041, p=0.026, and p=0.009, respectively). NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (p=0.01). In univariate analysis, mortality was also associated with the TIMI risk score, ejection fraction, and age. Patients who died were older (65.6+/-11.9 years vs 60.7+/-11.0 years; p=0.048) and had a lower ejection fraction (46.3+/-11% vs 54.1+/-9.8%; p<0.001) than patients who survived. Mortality rates corresponding to TIMI risk scores of 3, 4, and 5 were 25.9%, 29.6%, and 44.4%, respectively (p=0.58 for TIMI 3 vs 4; p=0.001 for TIMI 3 vs 5; p=0.013 for TIMI 4 vs 5). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that only TIMI risk score was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.4-3.8, p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP has an additive predictive value over TIMI risk score in predicting long-term mortality in intermediate-risk patients with ACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. nkahya77@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nihan Kahya
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ertaş
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yüksek
authors.forename: Cayan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nazli
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köseoğlu
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ergene
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain