Background and Purpose
We investigated whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) can serve as a biological marker of long-term mortality in ischemic stroke survivors.
Methods
We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with ischemic stroke within 24 hours of onset from April 2007 to December 2010 and measured plasma BNP upon admission. Survivors were followed up to 12 month after stroke onset. Patients were divided into two groups: the deceased group and the survival group. The factors associated with long-term mortality were investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results
A total of 736 patients who were alive at hospital discharge were included (mean age, 72.8 years; 439 males). Death was observed in 130 (17.7%) patients. The median (interquartile range: IQR) of age (81(74-86) years for the deceased group vs. 72 (64-79) years for the survival group, P<0.0001), frequencies of prior ischemic stroke (30% vs. 20%, P=0.0104), hemodialysis (10% vs. 2%, P=0.0002), atrial fibrillation (42% vs. 30%, P=0.0058), mRS score at discharge (4 (3-5) vs. 2 (1-4), P<0.0001), cardioembolism (45% vs. 34%, P=0.0102), creatinine level (0.80 (0.60-1.19) vs. 0.73 (0.58-0.90), P=0.0044), and BNP level (170.0 (74.0-393.0) vs. 50.0 (19.0-146.0) pg/ml, P<0.0001) were significantly higher in the deceased group than in the survival group. In multivariate analysis, age >75 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.89; 95%CI, 1.80-4.65, P=0.0001), hemidialysis (OR, 6.59; 95%CI, 2.47-17.59, P=0.0002), mRS score >3 at discharge (OR, 4.39; 95%CI, 2.77-6.97, P<0.0001), and a plasma BNP >100.0 pg/ml (OR, 3.98; 95%CI, 2.35-6.72, P<0.0001) were found to be independently associated with long-term mortality. BNP remained independent predictors of long-term mortality not only cardioembolism [BNP >200.0pg/ml (OR, 2.45;
95%CI, 1.22-4.90, P=0.0114)] but also non-cardioembolism [BNP >50.0pg/ml (OR, 4.01; 95%CI, 2.15-7.48, P=0.0001)]. Thus, the mortality rate according to the BNP level was as follows: 6% of patients with <50 pg/ml, 16% with 50 to <100 pg/ml, 27% with 100 to <200 pg/ml, 28% with 200 to <400 pg/ml, and 45% with ≥400 pg/ml.
Conclusions
BNP level upon admission can predict long-term mortality in ischemic stroke survivors.
Diagnostic Value of Plasma Levels of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia