Predictive value of NT-proBNP for major adverse cardiovascular events within a 6-month period in patients with acute coronary syndrome

The role of NT-proBNP as a cardiac biomarker for predicting short-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unclear.

This study investigated the utility of the NT-proBNP level for predicting MACEs within a 6-month period in patients with ACS.

This prospective study included 241 consecutively enrolled adults with ACS between September 2023 and February 2024. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, GRACE score, and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and NT-proBNP levels were compared between patients who were MACE-positive vs. MACE-negative within a 6-month period.

The overall mortality rate was 8.7%, and the incidence of MACEs was 43.2%. The mean serum levels of hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were significantly higher in the MACE-positive than in the MACE-negative group. Age, concomitant coronary artery disease, NT-proBNP, and GRACE score were independent predictors of MACEs in patients with ACS. An NT-proBNP level of 250 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 73.1% and a specificity of 88.3% for predicting MACEs, with an area under the curve of 0.847. The estimated risk of MACEs was 70% and 90% for NT-proBNP values of 600 pg/mL and 900 pg/mL, respectively.

The NT-proBNP level measured at ED admission was strongly associated with short-term MACEs in patients with all ACS subtypes and was an important prognostic biomarker. Therefore, combining the NT-proBNP level with the GRACE score in ACS patients may provide significant benefits in terms of predicting MACEs and obtaining a more accurate risk stratification.