The Effect of B-type Natriuretic Peptide Assays in Diagnosing Congestive Heart Failure and Evaluˉating Prognosis

Objective To investigate the prognosis of patients with congestive heart failure(CHF)by B type natriuretic peptide(BNP)assays.Methods343patients were admitted to hospital for CHF BNP levels,left venˉtricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular end diastolic diameters(LVDD),cardiacthoracic ratio(CRT)were performed respectively during admission and before discharge.The rates of fatality and rehospitalization were used as end points during3_month follow_up.Results1.The worse the heart function,the higher the BNP levels.BNP levels were significantly different in different heart function classes according to NYHA(P0.001).The levˉels of BNP in patients with heart function class I,II,III and IV were(157±15)pg/ml,(341±22)pg/ml,(597±33)pg/ml and(1245±38)pg/ml,respectively.2.There was a significant negative correlation between BNP levels and LVEF(r=-0.8,P0.05).3.BNP level of27patients including5deaths and22rehospitalization was(1683±124)pg/ml,however,BNP level of316patients in non_episode group was(468±48)pg/ml(P0.001).4.Sensitivity and speciality were96%and92%when BNP1500pg/ml was used as cut_off point before disˉcharge.5.Results of multiple factors step_wise regression analysis about gender,age,EF,LVDD,CTR,BNP and etiology etc.showed that there was a close significant correlation between BNP and prognosis.Conclusions BNP level was an effective marker in diagnosing CHF and evaluating prognosis.