Usefulness of NT-ProBNP as a Biomarker of Clinical Status in Outpatients With Chronic Heart Failure

The role of the amino-terminal fragment of probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in monitoring the clinical status of outpatients with chronic heart failure has not yet been fully established. Fifty-nine patients with chronic heart failure were followed up at an outpatient clinic. The serum NT-proBNP level was measured and clinical status was assessed according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and Framingham clinical criteria. A positive correlation was found between the NT-proBNP level, NYHA functional class and Framingham score (P<.001). Patients who presented with a Framingham score> 2 were more likely to be readmitted to hospital (31.8% vs 0%; P<.001), to visit an emergency department (36.4% vs 5.4%; P=.002), or to die (13.6% vs 0%; P=.021). The NT-proBNP level was higher in patients who needed to be readmitted to hospital (P=.004) and in those who attended an emergency department for decompensation (P=.002).

El papel del fragmento aminoterminal del péptido na-triurético tipo B (NT-proBNP) en la determinación de la si-tuación clínica ambulatoria de pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca crónica no está bien establecido. Se evaluó a 59 pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca seguidos en consulta para determinar la concentración de NT-proBNP y la si-tuación clínica mediante clase funcional según la New York Heart Association (NYHA) y los criterios clínicos de Framingham. Se obtuvo una correlación positiva entre NT-proBNP, NYHA y Framingham (p < 0,001). Los pa-cientes que presentaban una puntuación de Framingham > 2 tenían mayor tasa de reingresos (el 31,8 y el 0%; p < 0,001), visitas a urgencias (el 36,4 y el 5,4%; p = 0,002) y muertes (el 13,6 y el 0%; p = 0,021). El NT-proBNP esta-ba más elevado en pacientes que precisaron reingreso (p = 0,004) o visita a urgencias por descompensación (p = 0,002).