BJA Advance Access originally published online on August 27, 2009
British Journal of Anaesthesia 2009 103(5):647-653; doi:10.1093/bja/aep234
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N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels and early outcome after cardiac surgery: a prospective cohort study
1 Health Services Research Unit,
2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry,
3 Department of Cardiology,
4 Department of Cardiac Surgery and
5 Public Health, University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
* Corresponding author. E-mail: b.h.cuthbertson{at}abdn.ac.uk
Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular outcome in many circumstances. There are, however, limited data regarding the utility of NT-proBNP or BNP levels in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The current study assesses the ability of NT-proBNP to predict early outcome in this setting.
Methods: One thousand and ten patients undergoing non-emergent cardiac surgery were recruited prospectively. Baseline clinical details were obtained and the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) and Parsonnet score were calculated. Preoperative NT-proBNP levels were measured using the Roche Elecsys assay. The primary endpoint was 30 day mortality.
Results: Median NT-proBNP levels were 624 ng litre–1 among patients who died within 30 days of surgery (n=29), compared with 279 ng litre–1 in survivors [odds ratio (OR) 1.03 per 250 ng litre–1, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.05, P=0.001). NT-proBNP levels remained predictors of 30 day mortality in models including either the additive EuroSCORE (OR 1.03 per 250 ng litre–1, P=0.01), the logistic EuroSCORE (OR 1.03 per 250 ng litre–1, P=0.004), or the Parsonnet score (OR 1.02 per 250 ng litre–1, P=0.04). Levels of NT-proBNP were also predictors of prolonged (>1 day) stay in the intensive care unit (OR 1.03 per 250 ng litre–1, P<0.001) and of a hospital stay >1 week (OR 1.07 per 250 ng litre–1, P<0.001). They remained predictive of these outcomes in regression models that included either the EuroSCORE or the Parsonnet score and in a model that included all study variables.
Conclusions: NT-proBNP levels predict early outcome after cardiac surgery. Their prognostic utility is modest—but is independent of traditional indicators and conventional risk prediction scores.
Keywords: complications, death; complications, morbidity; hormones, atrial natriuretic peptide; surgery, cardiovascular