B-type natriuretic peptide is a long-term predictor of all-cause mortality, whereas high-sensitive C-reactive protein predicts recurrent short-term troponin T positive cardiac events in chest pain patients: a prognostic study
2008

BNP and hsCRP as Predictors in Chest Pain Patients

Sample size: 871 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Brügger-Andersen Trygve, Pönitz Volker, Staines Harry, Pritchard David, Grundt Heidi, Nilsen Dennis WT

Primary Institution: Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

Hypothesis

Does the combined use of BNP and hsCRP improve risk stratification for mortality and cardiovascular events in chest pain patients?

Conclusion

BNP is a useful biomarker for predicting long-term mortality in chest pain patients, while hsCRP does not improve survival risk stratification.

Supporting Evidence

  • 129 patients died during the 24-month follow-up.
  • BNP levels were significantly higher in patients who died compared to survivors.
  • HsCRP did not provide prognostic information for all-cause mortality.

Takeaway

Doctors can use BNP levels to help figure out how likely it is that a patient with chest pain will have serious problems later on, but hsCRP isn't as helpful for that.

Methodology

The study was a single-center prospective follow-up study involving 871 patients with chest pain and potential acute coronary syndromes, with blood samples taken at admission and follow-up conducted over 24 months.

Limitations

The study was conducted at a single center and had a high mortality rate, which may limit generalizability.

Participant Demographics

Patients were unselected and included a high percentage of elderly individuals with comorbidities.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.000

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 1.97–13.38

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2261-8-34

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