N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide Level as a Prognostic Predictor in Elderly Patients in a Convalescent Rehabilitation Ward

OBJECTIVE: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) levels were investigated to predict outcomes for elderly patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. METHODS: The study included 75 patients aged at least 75 years who were admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward of Naruto-Yamakami Hospital. Based on NTproBNP levels on admission, the patients were divided into those with NTproBNP levels ≥400 pg/ml (Group A) and those with NTproBNP levels <400 pg/ml (Group B). Patients were also divided into three groups according to their outcomes: Group I, death-related discharge or emergency transfer; Group II, home discharge; and Group III, medical/nursing care continuation. Group A patients were further divided, according to the time course of NTproBNP levels, into Group A-I (levels increased) and A-II (levels unchanged/decreased). The correlation coefficients between outcomes and each measurement index were determined, and discriminant analysis was performed among the groups. RESULTS: The NTproBNP level on hospitalization was significantly higher in Group I than in Groups II and III. There were significantly more death-related discharges and emergency transfers in Group A than in Group B and in Group A-I than in Group A-II. In discriminant analysis, assuming the outcome to be a dependent variable in Group A-I and Group A-II, the canonical correlation was 0.81 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that NTproBNP levels are useful for predicting patient outcomes.