The Influence of Diabetes on the Relationship between N-terminal Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Body Mass Index

This study evaluated the influence of diabetes on the relationship between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and body mass index (BMI). Simultaneous NT-proBNP and echocardiographic Doppler examinations were performed in 1117 patients with dyspnoea undergoing cardiac catheterization. Patients were divided into BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (obese), 23 − 25 kg/m2 (overweight) and < 23 kg/m2 (non-obese) groups. In the 803 non-diabetic patients, mean plasma NT-proBNP levels in non-obese, overweight and obese patients showed a significant negative correlation with BMI (862.3 ± 228.8 pg/ml, 611.5 ± 149.7 pg/ml, 278.3 ± 172.5 pg/ml, respectively). In the 314 patients with diabetes, there was no correlation between BMI and NT-proBNP. This study demonstrated that obese patients had reduced concentrations of NT-proBNP compared with non-obese patients, despite having higher left ventricular filling pressures. NT-proBNP was not reduced in obese patients with diabetes. These results suggest that factors other than cardiac status impact on NT-proBNP concentration.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic Peptide in overweight and obese patients with and without diabetes: an analysis based on body mass index and left ventricular geometry

Background and Objectives

Several recent studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and body mass index (BMI) in subjects with and without heart failure. Obesity frequently coexists with diabetes, so it is important to consider the relationship between diabetes and natriuretic peptide levels. We evaluated the influence of diabetes on the correlation of BNP and BMI.

Subjects and Methods

We examined 933 patients with chest pain and/or dyspnea undergoing cardiac catheterization between Feb. 2006 and Nov. 2007 in the Maryknoll cardiac center who had creatinine levels <2.0 mg/dL and normal systolic heart function. BMI was checked, transthoracic echocardiography was performed, and aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was sampled at the start of each case.

Results

In 733 non-diabetic patients, mean plasma NT-proBNP levels of non obese individuals (BMI <23 kg/m²), overweight individuals (23≤ BMI <25 kg/m²), and obese individuals (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) showed a significant negative correlation with increasing BMI (856.39±237.3 pg/mL, 601.69±159.6 pg/mL, 289.62±164.9 pg/mL, respectively, p<0.0001). However, in 200 diabetic patients, the correlation between BMI and NT-proBNP was not significant (r=-0.21, p=0.19), and NT-proBNP did not correlate with mitral E/Ea in obese diabetic patients (r=0.14, p=0.56). NT-proBNP was significantly correlated with mitral E/Ea in the non-obese (r=0.24, p=0.008) and non diabetic (r=0.32, p=0.003) groups. Left ventricular (LV) mass index was significantly correlated with NT-proBNP in all BMI groups (r=0.61, p<0.001), and patients with concentric cardiac hypertrophy showed the highest NT-proBNP levels.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that obese patients have reduced concentrations of NT-proBNP compared to non obese patients despite having higher LV filling pressures. However, NT-proBNP is not suppressed in obese patients with diabetes. This suggests that factors other than cardiac status affect NT-proBNP concentrations.