Natriuretic peptide testing in EDs for managing acute dyspnea: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of systematic natriuretic peptide testing in the management of patients presenting with acute dyspnea to emergency departments (EDs).


METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing the usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or its N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) in the management of patients presenting with dyspnea into ED. We searched Medline, Embase, and conference proceedings without restriction on neither language nor publication year. Selection of studies, data collection, and assessment of risk of bias were performed by 2 reviewers independently and in duplicate. Outcomes included hospital admission rate, time to discharge, and length of hospital stay, mortality and rehospitalization rates, and total direct medical costs. Combined risk ratios were estimated using fixed or random effects model. Duration and cost data were not combined.


RESULTS
Four randomized controlled trials, representing 2041 patients, were selected. In 4 trials, there was a tendency for hospital admission to be reduced in the intervention group (combined risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.01). Time to discharge was significantly reduced in 2 trials, whereas there was no significant reduction in hospital length of stay in 3 trials. There was no significant effect on in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates or rehospitalization rates (3 trials reporting each outcome). Two trials found significant reduction in direct costs.


CONCLUSIONS
The current evidence remains inconclusive on whether systematic natriuretic peptide testing is useful for the management of patients presenting to ED with acute dyspnea.
Trinquart
Ludovic
L
Evidence-based Medicine Center, Paris, France; INSERM CIE 4, Paris, France.
Ray
Patrick
P
Riou
Bruno
B
Teixeira
Antonio
A
D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain