Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is an excellent prognostic⁻predictive tool in heart failure (HF) patients, but its plasma level changes following therapy. The comparison of prognosis⁻predictivity of a single measurement of plasma NT-pro BNP in different follow-up periods in acute HF patients has been less studied. This study aimed to evaluate whether the association between initial plasma NT-proBNP levels and all-cause mortality would decrease along with an increased follow-up period in patients with acute HF. The retrospective study was carried out, enrolling adult patients with hospitalization-requiring acute HF who fulfilled the predefined criteria from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2013. We evaluated the independent predictors of 12-month mortality, and subsequently compared the predictivity of NT-proBNP level at initial presentation for 1-, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month mortality. In total, 269 patients (mean age, 74.45 ± 13.59 years; female, 53.9%) were enrolled. The independent predictors of 12-month mortality included higher "Charlson Comorbidity Index" (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10⁻1.34), increased "age" (aHR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04⁻1.10), "administration of vasopressor" (aHR = 3.43; 95% CI, 1.76⁻6.71), "underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation" (aHR = 4.59; 95% CI, 1.76⁻6.71), and without "angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker" (aHR = 0.41; 95% CI, 1.86⁻11.31) (all p <0.001). "Plasma NT-pro BNP level ≧11,755 ng/L" was demonstrated as an independent predictor in 1-month (aHR = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.10⁻5.11; p = 0.028) and 3-month mortality (aHR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.02⁻3.86; p = 0.045) but not in more extended follow-up. The outcome predictivity of plasma NT-proBNP levels diminished in a longer follow-up period in hospitalized acute HF patients. In conclusion, these findings remind physicians to act with caution when using a single plasma level of NT-proBNP to predict patient outcomes with a longer follow-up period.
Keywords: NT-proBNP; all-cause mortality; follow-up period; heart failure; hospitalization.