Serum Blood Urea Nitrogen and Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Low Diastolic Blood Pressure Predict Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality Following Discharge in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients

Abstract

Patients with heart failure (HF) have a high risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and re-hospitalization. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate predictors of CV death and re-hospitalization for acute decompensated HF (ADHF). A total of 225 patients aged 67.2±15.2 years, including 134 men (59.6%), who were hospitalized for ADHF between 2008 and 2009, were followed up. After discharge, the relationship between clinical parameters and CV events (ie, CV death or re-hospitalization for HF) was examined. Follow-up was continued until 30 April 2011. The most important predictors of re-hospitalization were serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.03, P=0.01), plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP; adjusted HR, 1.85; 95% CI: 1.12-3.04, P=0.02), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; adjusted HR, 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94-1.00, P=0.049). The only predictor of CV mortality was a high BUN (adjusted HR, 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.09, P=0.01). High serum BUN (≥22.5mg/dl), high plasma BNP (≥250pg/ml), and low DBP (<60mmHg) predict CV events in patients hospitalized for ADHF. These factors may identify high-risk patients for CV events and provide therapeutic targets for managing HF.  (Circ J 2012; 76: 2372-2379).