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/m(2) (obese), 23 - 25 kg/m(2) (overweight) and < 23 kg/m(2) (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.