NT-proBNP blood biomarker predicts cardiac risk in older adults

Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that monitoring levels of the blood biomarker N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can help predict cardiovascular disease and mortality risk in older adults.

An observational study involving 8,454 adults aged 70 and older, who were initially free of cardiovascular disease, tracked participants over a median of eight years. Researchers from Monash University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine categorized participants based on NT-proBNP levels at enrollment and three years later.

The findings showed that individuals with sustained or newly incident heart stress (elevated NT-proBNP) faced significantly higher risks for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Conversely, those who experienced heart stress remission—where elevated levels returned to normal—showed risk levels comparable to those who remained heart stress-free throughout the study.

Because conventional risk prediction tools can be less reliable for aging populations due to complex physiological changes, researchers suggest that monitoring longitudinal changes in this biomarker may improve risk stratification and primary prevention for older adults.