Predictive value of NT-proBNP and heart rate variability in readmission rate of patients with chronic heart failure

ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of NT-proBNP and heart rate variability(HRV) in readmission rate of patients with chronic heart failure(CHF).

MethodsA total of 179 patients with CHF were grouped according to the cardiac functional grading.The levels of NT-proBNP and ambulatory electrocardiograph in all cases were detected, the readmission rates were recorded after 1, 3 and 6 months of discharge, and the predictive value of the HRV indexes combined with NT-proBNP level in readmission rate of each group were analyzed.

ResultsThe differences of SDNN, RMSSD, PNN50 and HRV triangular index among patients with different cardiac functional grades were statistically significant(P < 0.01).The levels of NT-proBNP and HRV indexes in patients with grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ CHF were significantly higher than those in patients with grade Ⅱ CHF(P < 0.01), and which in patients with grade Ⅳ CHF was significantly higher than that in patients with grade Ⅲ CHF(P < 0.01).The readmission rate in patients with grades Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ CHF increased significantly with the time increasing after 1, 3 and 6 months of discharge(P < 0.01), and the readmission rate at the same time increased with the increasing of heart failure grade(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe HRV indexes combined with NT-proBNP level have important value in predicting the readmission rate of patients with CHF.