N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and stroke risk: the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke cohort.
OBJECTIVE
Improved identification of those at risk of stroke might improve prevention. We evaluated the association of the cardiac function biomarker N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with stroke risk in the 30 239 black and white participants of the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.


METHODS
During 5.4 years of follow-up after enrollment in 2003 to 2007, NT-proBNP was measured in baseline blood samples of 546 subjects with incident ischemic stroke and 956 without stroke.


RESULTS
NT-proBNP was higher with older age and in those with heart disease, kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and lower low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Adjusting for age, race, sex, income, education, and traditional stroke risk factors, there was an increased risk of stroke across quartiles of NT-proBNP; participants with NT-proBNP in the top versus the bottom quartile had a hazard ratio of 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.9-4.5). There was no impact of added adjustment for kidney function and heart failure. Among pathogenetic stroke subtypes, the association was largest for cardioembolic stroke, with a hazard ratio of 9.1 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-29.2). Associations did not differ by age, sex, or race, or after excluding those with baseline heart failure or atrial fibrillation. Predicted stroke risk was more accurate in 27% of participants if NT-proBNP was considered after traditional stroke risk factors (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
NT-proBNP was a major independent risk marker for stroke. Considering this and other data for stroke, coronary disease, and atrial fibrillation, the clinical use of NT-proBNP measurement in primary prevention settings should be considered.
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.). mary.cushman@uvm.edu.
Mary
M
Cushman
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Suzanne E
SE
Judd
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Virginia J
VJ
Howard
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Brett
B
Kissela
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Orlando M
OM
Gutiérrez
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Nancy S
NS
Jenny
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Ali
A
Ahmed
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Evan L
EL
Thacker
From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester (M.C., N.S.J., N.A.Z.); Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J., V.J.H., O.M.G., A.A., E.L.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (B.K.); and Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (A.A.).
Neil A
NA
Zakai
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
natriuretic peptides; risk factors; stroke