PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF NT-PROBNP COMPLEMENTS THE GEACE SCORE IN PEOPLE WITH NON-ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Objectives This study was designed to investigate whether admission N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) increase the prognostic accuracy of Global Registry of Acute Cornary Events (GRACE) risk score in the prediction of short-term prognosis after non-ST-segment acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Methods A total of 126 patients with Unstable angina 84 (66.7%) and non–ST-segment elevation elevation Myocardial infarction 42 (33.3%) were studied and followed up to 30 days. Admission GRACE score and NT-proBNP levels were measured. The primary endpoint was 30—day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, recurrent ischaemia or myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularisation, new onset of congestive heart failure). Patients were divided into endpoints group and non-endpoints group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate prognostic value of NT-proBNP level and GRACE score. The logistic regression models were used to assess the prognostic contribution of NT-proBNP level and GRACE score. Results During the follow up, 14 primary endpoints were recorded including nine recurrent ischaemia or myocardial (64.3%), two unplanned revascularisation (14.3%) and three new onset of congestive heart failure (21.4%) and no cardiac death. The systolic blood pressure was significantly lower while heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Killip grading were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group. The LgNT-proBNP level at admission (mean±SD 2.89±0.56 vs 2.13±0.59) and GRACE score ((mean±SD 162.48±33.15 vs 101.63±30.49) were significantly higer in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group (all p<0.001). After GRACE risk stratification, LgNT-proBNP of high risk group was the highest among the three groups (p<0.001). According to NT-proBNP levels, patients were stratified into four groups by quartile. Compared with lowest, second, and third quartiles, the GRACE risk score was the highest in the fourth quartile (p<0.001). The LgNT-proBNP in patients with NSTE-ACS had positive correlation with their GRACE risk score (r=0.30, p<0.001). The prognostic criteria for NT-proBNP level (area under cure, 0.47) was 608 pg/ml determined by ROC (p<0001). For GRACE score, the predictive value for endpoints was 0.718 (p=0.001) and the cut-off point was 156. Addition of NT-proBNP to the GRACE score, the predictive value for endpoints was 0.825 (p<0.001). In the logistic regression model, NT-proBNP and GRACE score were independent predictors of endpoints in the patients with NSTE-ACS. Conclusions Both NT-proBNP level at admission and GRACE score were independent predictors for endpoints at 30 days in patients with NSTE-ACS. The prognostic criteria for NT-proBNP level was 608 pg/ml. For GRACE score, the cut-off point was 156. Plasma NT-proBNP level refine the accuracy of the GRACE score.