The use of NT-proBNP testing in the screening for chronic heart failure

Abstract

Aim: The goasl of the present study were to screen an asymptomatic heart failure by using NT-proBNP testing in subjects with a cardiovascular risk factors and to define the factors associated with elevated NT-proBNP. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was included subjects aged from 35to 64 years, with high risk for heart failure, who had no clinical symptoms of heart failure. Cardiovascular risk factors were detected by clinical examinations. NT-pro BNP determination was performed on an immunoassay analyzer (FIA1100, Getein Bio Medical Inc, China), which uses reagent strip to obtain quantitative NT-pro BNP results in plasma. The cut-off point for NT-pro BNP was 125 pg/ml. Results: A total of 768 subjects with cardiovascular risk factors were included in the study of which, 336(42.5%) were males and 432 (57.5%) were females. The mean age was 51.2±8.4. Ninety-nine subjects (12.9 %) showed elevated NTpro BNP levels of ≥125 pg/ml. The mean NT-proBNP level among the 99 subjects with positive test was 299.6±119.4 pg /ml. The percentage of subjects with NT-proBNP levels of ≥125 pg / ml was nonsignificantly lower in males than in females (11.9% vs 13.7%, p>0.05). The OR (95% CI) was 3.49 (1.85–6.22) for persons with BP of ≥130/80 mmHg as compared with those with BP of <130/80 mmHg. Conclusion: We identified an asymptomatic heart failure in 12.9% of persons with cardiovascular risk factors. The likelihood of positive NT-pro BNP test was independently (p<0.05) associated with advanced age and hypertension.