Relationship and clinical significance between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level and cardiac function in elderly patients with chronic heart failure

Objective To investigate the relationship between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and NYHA classification,left ventricular structure and function in elderly patients with chronic heart failure and its clinical significance.Methods 110 elderly patients with CHF were divided into 3 groups according to cardiac functional classification and 21 healthy elderly subjects were enrolled in control group.The plasma level of NT-proBNP was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method in the four groups,and the structure and function of left ventricle were examined by echocardiography.Results The plasma level of NT-proBNP increased significantly in elderly patients with CHF compared with healthy controls(P0.01),and increased progressively in proportion to the degree of NYHA.NT-proBNP levels were negatively correlated with LVEF(P0.01)and positively correlated with LVMI(P0.05).Conclusions The plasma level of NT-proBNP is a reliable indicator for cardiac function and a useful tool for risk stratification in elderly patients with CHF.