Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: A diabetic state is causally related to heart failure (HF) which is a leading cause of mortality. Early detection of high-risk individuals is imperative for primary prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with diabetes type 2 (DT2).

Methods: We investigated 86 patients both sexes with DT2 aged 65.54±11.37 years (from 50 to 65 years) without clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and other biochemical data were measured. Control group included 34 healthy subjects the same age.

Results: NT-proBNP level increased with age in both the diabetic and control group but patients with DT2 had higher NT-proBNP levels (P<0.05). NT-proBNP was significantly correlated with HbA1c (r=0.53, P<0.001), serum creatinine (r=0.62, P<0.001), serum cystatin C (r=0.48, P<0.001), and age (r=0.31, P<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis of the significant variables showed that age (P=0.011), male gender (P=0.012), triglyceride (P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (P<0.001), and cystatin C (P<0.001) were the independent predictors of fasting serum log-NT-proBNP levels in diabetic patients.

Conclusions: We showed the role of risk factors to heart failure in patients with DT2. In these patients, the presence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and renal impairments were predictors of fasting serum log-NT-proBNP levels. Thus adjustments for the age, sex and renal function are necessary for determining cardiac risk based on NT-proBNP level.