The joint association of diabetes status and NT-ProBNP with adverse cardiac outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: a prospective cohort study

AIMS: To examine the joint association of diabetes status and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with subsequent risk of major adverse cardio-cerebral events (MACCEs) and all-cause mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). METHODS: A total of 7956 NSTE-ACS patients recruited from the Cardiovascular Center Beijing Friendship Hospital Database Bank were included in this cohort study. Patients were divided into nine groups according to diabetes status (normoglycemia, prediabetes, diabetes) and NT-proBNP tertiles (< 92 pg/ml, 92–335 pg/ml, ≥ 336 pg/ml). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the individual and joint association of diabetes status and NT-proBNP with the risk of MACCEs and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During 20,257.9 person-years of follow-up, 1070 MACCEs were documented. In the fully adjusted model, diabetes and a higher level of NT-proBNP were independently associated with MACCEs risk (HR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.20–1.68; HR 1.72, 95% CI: 1.40–2.11) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.05–1.78; HR 2.80, 95% CI: 1.89–4.17). Compared with patients with normoglycemia and NT-proBNP < 92 pg/ml, the strongest numerical adjusted hazards for MACCEs and all-cause mortality were observed in patients with diabetes and NT-proBNP ≥ 336 pg/ml (HR 2.67, 95% CI: 1.83–3.89; HR 2.98, 95% CI: 1.48–6.00). The association between MACCEs and all-cause mortality with various combinations of NT-proBNP level, HbA1c, and fasting plasma glucose was studied. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes status and elevated NT-proBNP were independently and jointly associated with MACCEs and all-cause mortality in patients with NSTE-ACS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-023-01771-1.