The Clinical Value of N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Evaluating Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Chronic Heart Failure in Patients with Arterial Hypertension Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Possible Options to Pathogenetic Therapy

Aim. To study approaches to the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced and mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) against the background of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Material and methods. The study included 136 patients with CHF and AH. Inclusion criteria for the study: 1) moderate and severe OSA (with an apnea/hypopnea index of more than 15 per hour); 2) II-IV functional class of CHF according to NYHA; 3) the level of brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) ≥125 pg/ml; 3) LVEF <50%; 4) the duration of hypertension is at least 2 years. Patients received drug therapy, including beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, diuretics, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor inhibitors or valsartan/sacubitrile. After 12 months of followup, the patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the medication being administered. Group 1 included patients (n = 50) receiving therapy with valsartan/sacubitril, group 2 included patients (n = 86) receiving therapy without this drug. Effective CPAP-therapy also was registered in each group.

Results. In patients with CHF who received valsartan/sacubitril, disease progression was recorded in 28% of cases, while in patients who did not receive therapy with this drug, an unfavorable course of CHF was recorded in 42.8% (p = 0.001). In group 1, the NT-proBNP level significantly (p = 0.034) decreased by 34%, while in group 2, a significant (p = 0.002) increase in biomarker levels was revealed by 35.5%. In the group of patients receiving therapy with valsartan/sacubitril an increase in LVEF (p = 0.007) was revealed by 12.5%. In group 1, an increase in exercise tolerance was achieved in the form of a significant (p = 0.012) increase in the distance of the six-minute walk test by 18.2%, while in group 2, the six-minute walk distance decreased by 19.2% (p = 0.034). In the subgroup of patients receiving CPAP therapy in combination with valsartan/sacubitril therapy (n=8), LVEF increased by 11.6% (p = 0.043), the six-minute walk test distance increased by 29.7% (p = 0.046), and NT-proBNP decreased by 22.5% (p = 0.039), while in the group of patients who received only CPAP therapy (n=19).

Conclusion. The most significant slowdown in the rate of progression of CHF in patients with AH associated with OSA, an increase in exercise tolerance, as well as the most pronounced tendency to the reverse development of pathological echocardiographic changes in the myocardium when using valsartan/sacubitrile in drug therapy in combination with effective hardware CPAP therapy.

Association between NT-proBNP and nocturia among community-dwelling elderly males and females: A cross-sectional analysis of the HEIJO-KYO study

AIMS

To investigate the association between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and nocturia among community-dwelling males and females.

METHODS

A total of 1096 participants (mean age 71.9 ± 7.1 years, 518 [47.2%] males) were included in the study. The number of nocturnal voids was recorded in a self-reported urination diary, and nocturia was defined as two or more voids per night. Daytime serum concentration of the N-terminal fragment of BNP precursor (NT-proBNP) was measured. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between NT-proBNP and nocturia.

RESULTS

Nocturia was observed in 23.5% of females and 37.1% of males. Higher NT-proBNP (log pg/ml) was associated with nocturia in both gender groups (females: odds ratio [OR]: 1.67, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.21-2.34, p = .002; males: OR: 1.26, 95% CI, 1.01-1.59, p = .046), independent of confounding variables including night-time blood pressure, mean voided volume, and chronic kidney disease. Although the increase in prevalence of nocturia with higher NT-proBNP was equivalent in both genders, some effect of gender on the relationship between NT-proBNP and nocturia was observed (p = .037). Nocturnal urine volume was also significantly and independently associated with NT-proBNP level (females: β = 32.9 ml, 95% CI, 5.63-60.2, p = .018; males: β = 34.6 ml, 95% CI, 9.40-59.9, p = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed higher serum NT-proBNP is significantly and independently associated with the prevalence of nocturia in both males and females. This is an exploratory cross-sectional study and the analyses are post hoc, so further research works are needed to clarify the causality and clinical value.