N-terminal natriuretic peptid does not relate to morfological and functional alterations in octagenarians without heart failure

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Aims To investigate whether mild elevation of N-terminal natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in asymptomatic elderly individuals is associated with alterations in structural/ functional cardiac abnormalities and assess its prognostic significance. Methods and results 201 individuals, 75 years of age, where randomly selected from a population-cohort study in Stockholm (STROKESTOP). Patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF), more than mild valvular disease or the heart failure (HF) diagnosis were excluded. NT-proBNP measurements, echocardiography, demographics and cardiovascular risk factors were accessed in all subjects. Thumb ECG was performed in all participants. Information regarding cardiovascular morbidity, HF and AF was obtained from the electronic medical record 5 years after inclusion [ median 5,01 years (interquartile range 4,8 – 5,5 years)]. The cohort was divided into three groups [group I: n=94, NT-proBNP 125–900 ng/L, no AF; group II: n= 77, NT-proBNP 125–900 ng/L, paroxysmal AF and group III: n=30; NT-proBNP < 125 ng/L, no AF. No association between NT-proBNP and echocardiographic or demographic variables was found in groups I and III. In group II, a weak correlation was found between NT-pro-BNP and body mass index (r=0.24, p = 0.038), left atrial volumes (r=0.28, p = 0.047) and E/é septal (r=0.30, p = 0.018). There was no association between individual risk factors and NT-proBNP levels in any group. Cox-regression analysis did not reveal any prognostic value of NT-proBNP for HF or AF development (p> 0.05). Conclusion Mild increase in NT-proBNP levels is not associated with morphologic, functional or prognostic information in octogenarians without HF diagnosis.