Admission B-type natriuretic peptide levels and in-hospital mortality in acute decompensated heart failure

Objectives This study was designed to determine whether admission B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are predictive of in-hospital mortality in acute decompensated heart failure (HF). Background Levels of BNP have been demonstrated to facilitate the diagnosis of HF and predict mortality in chronic systolic HF. Methods B-type natriuretic peptide levels within 24 h of presentation were obtained in 48,629 (63%) of 77,467 hospitalization episodes entered in ADHERE (Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry). In-hospital mortality was assessed by BNP quartiles in the entire cohort and in patients with reduced (n = 19,544) as well as preserved (n = 18,164) left ventricular systolic function using chi-square and logistic regression models. Results Quartiles (Q) of BNP were Q1 (< 430), Q2 (430 to 839), Q3 (840 to 1,729), and Q4 (>= 1,730 pg/ml). The BNP levels were < 100 pg/ml in 3.3% of the total cohort. Patients in Q1 versus Q4 were younger, more likely to be women, and had lower creatinine and higher left ventricular ejection fraction. There was a near-linear relationship between BNP quartiles and in-hospital mortality: Q1 (1.9%), Q2 (2.8%), Q3 (3.8%), and Q4 (6.0%), p < 0.0001. B-type natriuretic peptide quartile remained highly predictive of mortality even after adjustment for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, pulse, and dyspnea at rest, Q4 versus Q1 (adjusted odds ratio 2.23 [95% confidence interval 1.91 to 2.62, p < 0.0001]). The BNP quartiles independently predicted mortality in patients with reduced and preserved systolic function. Conclusions An elevated admission BNP level is a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality in acute decompensated HF with either reduced or preserved systolic function, independent of other clinical and laboratory variables. (Registry for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00366639; NCT00366639). (J Am Coll Cardiol 2007;49:1943-50) (C) 2007 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation