Key result
Female gender was the main contributor to higher NT-proBNP levels in an apparently healthy population (median 30.2 vs 14.9 pg/mL in men; P<.001), followed by age, BMI, and creatinine clearance.
Cross-Sectional (n=486)
In an apparently healthy population, NT-proBNP levels are significantly influenced by gender, age, BMI, and renal function, which should be considered when interpreting this biomarker.
Sex should factor into NT-proBNP interpretation in healthy adults; leaves open whether adjusted thresholds improve diagnostic performance.
Brain natriuretic peptides are widely used as biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases and mainly heart failure. However, these markers are often found to be high even in apparently healthy participants, and little is known about which factors contribute to physiological change in plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) concentration in general populations. In this study, a random subsample of the ATTICA study was used (486 individuals) and serum NT-proBNP was measured. Approximately 20% of the participants had no detectable NT-proBNP values. Women had higher values of NT-proBNP than men (median [25th-75th percentiles]: 30.2 [15.8-54.3] vs 14.9 [4.0-28.1] pg/mL, P < .001]. Amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide values were positively correlated with age (rho = .140, P = .006) and inversely with body mass index (BMI; rho = -.142, P = .005), creatinine (Cr) clearance (rho = -.349, P < .001), and hemoglobin (rho = -.249, P < .001) values. Linear regression analysis revealed that gender is the main contributor of NT-proBNP levels, followed by age, BMI, and Cr values.
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Fragopoulou et al. (2009) conducted a cross-sectional in Apparently healthy (n=486). Female gender vs. Male gender was evaluated on NT-proBNP concentration (pg/mL) (p=<.001). Female gender was the main contributor to higher NT-proBNP levels in an apparently healthy population (median 30.2 vs 14.9 pg/mL in men; P<.001), followed by age, BMI, and creatinine clearance.
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