Predictors of mortality in cardiac surgery: brain natriuretic peptide type B

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether the preoperative serum concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients that underwent cardiac surgery. METHODS: We continuously evaluated 488 patients that underwent cardiac valve surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between January of 2009 and July of 2012. Follow up of these patients were done prospectively for 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Data analysis showed that the overall mortality rate was equal to 9.6%, Receiver Operating Charactheristic (ROC) curve analysis found the optimal cut-off value of BNP equal to 382 pg/mL for overall mortality (AUC=0.73, 95% CI=0.66 to 0.81, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the value of BNP higher than 382 pg/mL (P=0.033, HR=2.05, 95% CI=1.6 to 3.98) was an independent predictor of overall mortality at 30 days postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the preoperative serum concentration of BNP is an independent predictor of mortality in patients undergoing valve surgery or coronary artery bypass graft.