Is elevation of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide at discharge associated with 2-year composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation? Insights from a multicentre prospective OCEAN-TAVI registry in Japan

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the 2-year prognostic impact of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels at discharge following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). DESIGN: Multicentre prospective observational study. SETTINGS: Seven institutions from multicentre, observational registry of symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis who undergo TAVI. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 500 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI with measurements of NT-proBNP at discharge between 2013 and 2016. Study patients were stratified into two groups according to survival classification and regression tree (CART) analysis: high versus low NT-proBNP groups. INTERVENTIONS: The impact of high NT-proBNP on a 2-year composite endpoint consisting of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation was evaluated using a multivariable Cox model. RESULTS: Median age was 86 years (quartile 82–89), and 24.2% of the study population were men. Median Society of Thoracic Surgeon score was 7.1 (5.1–9.8), and NT-proBNP at discharge was 1381 (653–3136) pg/mL. The composite endpoint incidence was 13.0% (95% CI 9.5% to 16.3%) at 1 year and 22.3% (95% CI 16.1%–27.9%) at 2 years. The survival CART analysis revealed that the NT-proBNP level required to discern the 2-year composite endpoint was 4288 pg/mL. Elevated NT-proBNP had a statistically significant impact on outcomes, with adjusted HR of 2.21 (95% CI 1.21 to 4.04, p=0.010), and with a significant sex difference (P for interaction=0.003). CONCLUSION: Elevation of NT-proBNP at discharge is associated with higher incidence of the 2-year composite endpoint after TAVI. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 000020423