Cost-effectiveness of B-type natriuretic peptide testing in patients with acute dyspnea.

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a quantitative marker of heart failure that seems to be helpful in its diagnosis. METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized study (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide for Acute Shortness of Breath Evaluation) including 452 patients who presented to the emergency department with acute dyspnea to estimate the long-term cost-effectiveness of BNP guidance. Participants were randomly assigned to a diagnostic strategy involving the measurement of BNP levels (n = 225) or assessment in a standard manner (n = 227). Nonparametric bootstrapping was used to estimate the distribution of incremental costs and effects on the cost-effectiveness plane during 180 days of follow-up. RESULTS: Testing of BNP induced several important changes in management of dyspnea, including a reduction in the initial hospital admission rate, the use of intensive care, and total days in the hospital at 180 days (median, 10 days [interquartile range, 2-24 days] in the BNP group vs 14 days [interquartile range, 6-27 days] in the control group; P = .005). At 180 days, all-cause mortality was 20% in the BNP group and 23% in the control group (P = .42). Total treatment cost was significantly reduced in the BNP group (7930 dollars vs 10,503 dollars in the control group; P = .004). Analysis of incremental 180-day cost-effectiveness showed that BNP guidance resulted in lower mortality and lower cost in 80.6%, in higher mortality and lower cost in 19.3%, and in higher or lower mortality and higher cost in less than 0.1% each. Results were robust to changes in most variables but sensitive to changes in rehospitalization with BNP guidance. CONCLUSION: Testing of BNP is cost-effective in patients with acute dyspnea.

Use of B-type natriuretic peptide in the management of acute dyspnea in patients with pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: In patients with pulmonary disease, it is often challenging to distinguish exacerbated pulmonary disease from congestive heart failure (CHF). The impact of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements on the management of patients with pulmonary disease and acute dyspnea remains to be defined. METHODS: This study evaluated the subgroup of 226 patients with a history of pulmonary disease included in the BASEL Study. Patients were randomly assigned to a diagnostic strategy with (n = 119, BNP group) or without (n = 107, clinical group) the use of BNP levels provided by a rapid bedside assay. Time to discharge and total cost of treatment were recorded as the primary end points. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in patients assigned to the BNP and control groups. Comorbidity was extensive, including coronary artery disease and hypertension in half of patients. The primary discharge diagnosis was CHF and exacerbated obstructive pulmonary disease in 39% and 33%, respectively. The use of BNP levels significantly reduced the need for hospital admission (81% vs 91%, P = .034). Median time to discharge was 9.0 days in the BNP group as compared with 12.0 days (P = .001) in the clinical group. Median total cost of treatment was $4841 in the BNP group as compared with $5671 in the clinical group (P = .008). Inhospital mortality was 8% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: CHF is a major cause of acute dyspnea in patients with a history of pulmonary disease. Used in conjunction with other clinical information, rapid measurement of BNP reduced time to discharge and total treatment cost of these patients.

Emergency diagnosis of congestive heart failure: impact of signs and symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The most useful features in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) have been poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of signs and symptoms in the diagnosis of CHF in the emergency department. METHODS: Detailed clinical data were collected prospectively from 452 consecutive patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department. By using logistic regression analysis, significant predictors for the final discharge diagnosis of CHF (adjudicated after review of all patient records, including response to therapy) were assessed. RESULTS: In 217 of 452 patients (48%), CHF was the cause of acute dyspnea. Among symptoms, the OR for CHF was highest for weight gain (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.9 to 7.0), nocturia (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.6 to 3.7) and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.6 to 3.5), and lowest for fever (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.56). Among signs, the OR was highest for elevated jugular venous pressure (OR 4.3; 95% CI 2.3 to 7.9), rales (OR 3.1; 95% CI 2.1 to 4.5), lower extremity edema (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.9 to 4.3) and hepatojugular reflux (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4 to 5.2), and lowest for wheezing (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.61). The overall sensitivity was low. The specificity was highest for elevated jugular venous pressure and hepatojugular reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Signs and symptoms are only moderately helpful in the diagnosis of CHF in patients with acute dyspnea. This emphasizes the need for additional diagnostic tools, such as echocardiography or B-type natriuretic peptide testing.

Use of B-type natriuretic peptide for the management of women with dyspnea.

In studies with predominately male patients, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been shown to be helpful in the evaluation and management of patients who present with acute dyspnea. The effect of BNP levels on the management of women has not been defined. This study evaluated a predefined subgroup of 190 women included in a prospective randomized controlled study of BNP testing for emergency diagnosis of acute dyspnea. Patients were randomly assigned to a diagnostic strategy with (n = 93, BNP group) or without (n = 97, control group) the use of BNP levels provided by a rapid bedside assay. Women differed significantly from men in baseline characteristics, symptoms, signs, and final discharge diagnoses. The use of BNP levels decreased the need for hospital admission (73% vs 86%, p = 0.034) and intensive care (12% vs 23%, p = 0.048). Median time to discharge was 6 days in the BNP group versus 10 days in the control group (p = 0.023). Total cost of treatment was $4,781 in the BNP group (95% confidence interval 3,854 to 5,708) versus $6,843 in the control group (95% confidence interval 5,611 to 8,074, p = 0.009). In-hospital mortality rates were 4% in the BNP group and 10% in the control group (p = 0.165). Thus, used in conjunction with other clinical information, rapid measurement of BNP decreased time to discharge and total cost of treatment in women who presented with acute dyspnea.