Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyResearch article
NT-proBNP in relation to clinical characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes in non-anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation
- two multicentre clinical trials
- plasma samples obtained at baseline
- multivariable linear regression
- Cox regression models
- C-statistics
Authors' conclusion
In non-anticoagulated patients with a diagnosis of AF, NT-proBNP levels were significantly associated with the risk of clinical outcomes. Baseline AF rhythm was the clinical factor most strongly associated with NT-proBNP levels. However, the associations between NT-proBNP and outcomes remained consistent regardless of baseline rhythm.
Study context
- Population
- Non-anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) randomised to aspirinpatients with AF randomised to aspirin in two multicentre clinical trials
- Participants
- 3,183 patients
- Comparison
- the third sample quartile compared with the first
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
NT-proBNP levels by baseline rhythm · baseline
concentrations higher in AF than in sinus rhythm
4.2 times
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ischaemic stroke, heart failure hospitalisation, cardiovascular death, all-cause death · median follow-up of 18 months — third sample quartile vs first · ischaemic stroke · independently associated | 2.07 (1.46–2.94) | |
| Ischaemic stroke, heart failure hospitalisation, cardiovascular death, all-cause death · median follow-up of 18 months — third sample quartile vs first · heart failure hospitalisation · independently associated | 2.16 (1.59–2.92) | |
| Ischaemic stroke, heart failure hospitalisation, cardiovascular death, all-cause death · median follow-up of 18 months — third sample quartile vs first · cardiovascular death · independently associated | 2.43 (1.79–3.30) | |
| Ischaemic stroke, heart failure hospitalisation, cardiovascular death, all-cause death · median follow-up of 18 months — third sample quartile vs first · all-cause death · independently associated | 2.09 (1.65–2.65) | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Interaction between heart rhythm and NT-proBNP–outcome associations
- no interaction
- all p values ≥0.07
Original publication
NT-proBNP in relation to clinical characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes in non-anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation. Heart. Published 17 August 2026. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2026-328033
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it