Plasma NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients with newly detected atrial fibrillation compared to those without the condition, yielding an AUC of 0.68 for detection.
Cross-Sectional (n=103)
No
Does the plasma level of NT-proBNP relate to the presence of atrial fibrillation and facilitate screening in 70-74-year-old individuals in primary care?
NT-proBNP levels are significantly elevated in patients with newly detected and known atrial fibrillation compared to those without, suggesting its potential utility as a screening marker in primary care.
Effect estimate: AUC 0.68 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.79)
Absolute Event Rate: 335% vs 146%
p-value: p=0.033
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF), an important cause of thromboembolic events, is often silent and intermittent, thus presenting a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to assess whether the plasma level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is related to the presence of AF and thereby might be used to facilitate screening programs for AF in primary care. METHODS: This was a cross sectional screening study. A population of 70-74-year-old individuals registered at a single primary care center in Stockholm were invited to AF screening. Intermittent ECG recording, 30 seconds twice a day using a hand-held device over 2 weeks, was offered to participants without previously known AF. Of the 324 participating persons, 34 patients had already known AF and 16 new cases of AF were detected by screening. Plasma NT-proBNP was measured in patients with previously known AF, newly detected AF, and 53 control participants without AF. FINDINGS: The median NT-proBNP was 697 ng/L in patients with previously known AF, 335 ng/L in new cases of AF, and 146 ng/L in patients without AF. After adjustment for several clinical variables and morbidities, the differences of median NT-proBNP levels were statistically significant between cases of previously known AF and new cases of AF as well as between new cases of AF and those without AF. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of detection of new AF was 0.68 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.79) yielding a cut-off point of 124 ng/L with 75% sensitivity, 45% specificity, and 86% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: The NT-proBNP plasma levels among patients with known AF are higher than those with newly detected AF, and the latter have higher levels than those without AF. Therefore NT-proBNP might be a useful screening marker for the detection of AF and its persistence.
Al-Khalili et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Atrial fibrillation (n=103). NT-proBNP screening vs. No atrial fibrillation was evaluated on Detection of new atrial fibrillation (AUC 0.68, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.79, p=0.033). Plasma NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients with newly detected atrial fibrillation compared to those without the condition, yielding an AUC of 0.68 for detection.