Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in septic and non-septic intensive care patients.
Material and methods: Fifty consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were enrolled in either the septic or non-septic group according to the criteria in the International Sepsis Definitions Conference in 2001. Demographic and clinical data, procalcitonin and lactate levels at admission, and death within 28 days were registered. Five blood samples were collected from all patients for NT-proBNP measurements.
Results: Septic patients had higher APACHE II (19 (16.00–24.25) vs. 16 (13.00–18.25)), and SOFA (8 (5–10) vs. 6 (4–7)) scores (p <0.05). Procalcitonin levels were also higher in septic patients (3.33 (1.06–10.96) vs. 0.46 (0.26–1.01) ng/ml) and more patients required vasopressors in this group (9 (36%) vs. 2 (8%)) (p < 0.05). In the septic group, the correlation between mortality and the level of NT-proBNP was significant for each measurement, starting from the admission. In the non-septic group the correlation between mortality and the level of NT-proBNP was significant only at the 120th h.
Conclusions: We concluded that the level of NT-proBNP at admission is well correlated with 28-day mortality in septic ICU patients. However, single measurement of NT-proBNP levels in non-septic patients does not correlate with the 28-day mortality. Repeated measurements and an increasing trend of the NT-proBNP levels may show a correlation with mortality in non-septic intensive care patients.