Diagnostic accuracy of plasma NT-proBNP levels for excluding cardiac abnormalities in the very elderly

BMC Geriatrics

Table 4 Test Characteristics for NT-proBNP Levels (Cut-off 269.5 pg/mL) for Detecting Structural and Functional Cardiac Abnormalities in Nonagenarians

	Prevalence n(%)	AUC (95% CI)	Sens. (%)	Spec. (%)	PPV (%)	NPV (%)
Abnormal LV dimensions (LVEDD index ≥33 mm/m² or LV hypertrophy) and/or LV systolic dysfunction	38 (48)	0.75 (0.64-0.85)	84	48	59	77*
LV systolic dysfunction (EF < 50)	7 (9)	0.67 (0.42-0.92)	71	33	9	92*
Indexed left atrial volume ≥ 40 ml/m²	12 (15)	0.74 (0.60-0.88)	92	36	21	96^£
Severe valvular heart disease^#	21 (26)	0.71 (0.58-0.84)	90	41	35	92^$
PAP ≥ 40 mmHg	10 (13)	0.85 (0.72-0.98)	100	35	28	100
Severe valvular heart disease and/or LV systolic dysfunction (EF < 50)	25 (31)	0.68 (0.55-0.81)	84	40	39	85^$
Any severe echocardiographic abnormality	50 (63)	0.77 (0.66-0.88)	82	57	76	65^$

Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) calculated for an NT-proBNP cut-off value of 269.5 pg/mL.
Abbreviations: EDD, end-diastolic diameter; LV, left ventricular; EF: ejection fraction; PAP, pulmonary artery pressure; CI, confidence intervals.
An NT-proBNP cut-off value of 130 pg/mL (*), 236 pg/mL (^£) and 61 pg/mL (^$) increased the NPV to 100%.
^# Severe mitral or aortic stenosis, severe mitral regurgitation and severe aortic regurgitation.

ISSN: 1471-2318