title: A cross sectional study comparing traditional risk factors with N-terminal pro-BNP in high risk groups for cardiovascular disease in Trinidad, West Indies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been well-elaborated. In recent years, the use of biomarkers has emerged for identifying individuals at high risk with the aim of earlier identification and risk mitigation. Among the most promising non-traditional markers are BNP and NT-proBNP. This study aims to compare whether serum NT-proBNP co-segregates with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in elderly type 2 diabetic and non diabetic in a population with high prevalence of CVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study utilized a cross sectional design. Blood samples collected were analyzed for hs-CRP, total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, and NT-proBNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum NT-proBNP levels were significantly elevated in diabetics (X=125.5 ± 49.7) compared to non diabetics (X = 64.3 ± 34.6). In diabetics, NT-proBNP demonstrated statistically significant spearman's coefficients with respect to systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, hs-CRP, fasting glucose and insulin. Among non diabetics there was no relationship between NT-proBNP, blood pressure and insulin. Multivariate logistic regression revealed relation between diabetics; elevated NT-proBNP, blood pressure, triglyceride, CRP, fasting glucose and plasma insulin compared with non diabetics where NT-proBNP showed significant relation only to diastolic blood pressure. Diabetics showed significant correlation with elevated NT-proBNP and traditional risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and elevated hs-CRP) as compared with non diabetics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP co-segregates with traditional risk factors for CVD among elderly diabetics and may be a useful additional screening test for those at risk for CVD.
authors.affiliation: The University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. shivananda.nayak@sta.uwi.edu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shivananda Nayak
authors.forename: Surujpal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teelucksingh
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jagessar
authors.forename: Shivanand
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: Nadira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maharaj
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014280:Triglycerides; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain