N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide for Risk Assessment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation : Insights from the ARISTOTLE trial

• OBJECTIVE:This study sought to assess the prognostic value of N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) enrolled in the ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for the Prevention of Stroke in Subjects With Atrial Fibrillation) trial, and the treatment effect of apixaban according to NT-proBNP levels.BACKGROUND:Natriuretic peptides are associated with mortality and cardiovascular events in several cardiac diseases.METHODS:In the ARISTOTLE trial, 18,201 patients with AF were randomized to apixaban or warfarin. Plasma samples at randomization were available from 14,892 patients. The association between NT-proBNP concentrations and clinical outcomes was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard models, after adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors.RESULTS:Quartiles of NT-proBNP were Q1:≤363, Q2:364-713, Q3:714-1250 and Q4:>1250 ng/L. During 1.8 years the annual rates of stroke or systemic embolism ranged from 0.74% in the bottom NT-proBNP quartile to 2.21% in the top quartile, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.35 (95% CI 1.62-3.40, p<0.0001. Annual rates of cardiac death ranged from 0.86% in Q1 to 4.14% in Q4, adjusted HR 2.50 (1.81-3.45), p<0.0001. Adding NT-proBNP levels to the CHA2DS2VASc score improved C-statistics from 0.62 to 0.65 (p=0.0009) for stroke or systemic embolism and from 0.59 to 0.69 for cardiac death (p<0.0001). Apixaban reduced stroke, mortality, and bleeding regardless of the NT-proBNP level.CONCLUSIONS:NT-proBNP levels are often elevated in AF and independently associated with an increased risk of stroke and mortality. NT-proBNP improves risk stratification beyond the CHA2DS2VASc score and might be a novel tool for improved stroke prediction in AF. The efficacy of apixaban compared with warfarin is independent of the NT-proBNP level. (Apixaban for the Prevention of Stroke in Subjects With Atrial Fibrillation [ARISTOTLE].

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

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