Is pulse pressure associated with elevated NT-proBNP concentrations in elderly individuals without cardiovascular disease?
Elevated NT-proBNP concentrations are associated with higher pulse pressure in elderly individuals without CVD, suggesting it may serve as a marker of arterial stiffness.
BACKGROUND: N-Terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is widely used as a marker of ventricular dysfunction. However, data regarding the association of NT-proBNP with blood pressure (BP) and pulse pressure (PP) in the elderly population are limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present cross-sectional study involved 6,529 participants, aged ≥70 years, without cardiovascular disease (CVD), who underwent general health examinations. Serum NT-proBNP concentrations were determined, with high NT-proBNP concentrations defined as those ≥125 pg/mL. Subjects were divided into five groups based on PP (<50, ≥50 to <60, ≥60 to <70, ≥70 to <80, and ≥80 mmHg). NT-proBNP was positively associated with systolic BP, whereas a U-shaped association was found between diastolic BP and NT-proBNP. The odds ratios for high NT-proBNP concentrations in the PP ≥80 and ≥70 to <80 mmHg groups (OR 1.83 P<0.001 and 1.40 P<0.005, respectively) were significantly higher than in the PP <50 mmHg group. All data were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, hemoglobin concentration, serum creatinine, pulse rate, smoking, alcohol intake, and antihypertensive medication intake, and the presence of diabetes and dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that NT-proBNP concentrations may be a marker of not only ventricular dysfunction, but also arterial stiffness in the elderly population without CVD.
Sasaki et al. (2018) studied this question.