Peak B-type natriuretic peptide predicts worse physical function up to two years post surgery
THURSDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- Higher peak postoperative levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), secreted by the heart in response to stress, are independently associated with worse physical function up to two years after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, according to a study published in the April issue of Anesthesiology.
Amanda A. Fox, M.D., M.P.H., of Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues investigated whether postoperative BNP levels affected physical function after CABG surgery. The Short Form-36 questionnaire was administered to 845 patients in two hospitals pre- and postoperatively. The link between peak postoperative BNP levels and physical function six months to two years after surgery was assessed after adjusting for multiple clinical variables.
The researchers found that peak postoperative BNP was significantly correlated with lower postoperative physical function six months to two years after primary CABG surgery. This relationship remained significant even after adjusting for demographic characteristics and clinical outcome predictors, including preoperative physical function, obesity, and the development of significant postoperative ventricular dysfunction.
"Early identification of cardiac surgical patients at risk of having lower postoperative physical function provides an opportunity to initiate prompt postoperative interventions," the authors write. "Future studies are needed to determine if BNP guidance of such interventions can improve physical function and other health related quality of life measures after CABG surgery."
This study was partially funded by Biosite Inc.
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