Background The prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ( NT -pro BNP ) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent septal myectomy has not been well studied. Methods and Results We retrospectively evaluated NT -pro BNP levels in 758 patients (46.1±13.8 years; median follow-up, 936 days) who underwent septal myectomy in our center between March 2011 and April 2018. The median NT -pro BNP level was 1450.5 (interquartile range 682.6-2649.5) pg/mL. Overall, 22 (2.9%) patients died during follow-up; of these, 86.4% were cardiovascular deaths. The 3-year survival free from all-cause mortality by tertile was 95.2% (95% CI 91.1% to 97.4%; NT -pro BNP >2080 pg/mL), 98.3% (95% CI 94.6% to 99.5%; NT -pro BNP , 947-2080 pg/mL), and 99.2% (95% CI , 94.4% to 99.9%; NT -pro BNP <947 pg/mL). The 3-year survival rate free from cardiovascular mortality by tertiles was 95.2% in the highest tertile, 98.8% in the middle tertile, and 99.2% in the lowest tertile. Cox regression analysis indicated that Ln( NT -pro BNP ) was a significantly independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 2.380, 95% CI 1.356-4.178, P=0.003) and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 2.788, 95% CI 1.450-5.362, P=0.002). In addition, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting for coronary artery disease was also an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 5.178, 95% CI 1.597-16.789, P=0.006). Conclusions Increased preoperative NT -pro BNP level is a strong predictor of midterm mortality in patients undergoing septal myectomy.
Keywords: brain natriuretic peptide; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; surgery; survival.