Role of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level in predicting prognosis of pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients

Objective To study the role of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level in predicting the prognosis of pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients. Methods Clinical data about pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients admitted to respiratory intensive care unit(RICU) in our hospital from January 2011 to May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The NT-proBNP level in non-HIV immunocompromised patients was measured within 24 h after admission. The patients were divided into death group and survival group according to their mortality in RICU. The NT-proBNP and APACHE Ⅱ scores were compared between the 2 groups. Results Of the 44 patients included in this study, 18 died and 26 survived. The NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in death group than in survival group (3 066.5 pg/ml vs 372.0 pg/ml). The area under the ROC curves for the mortality in RICU as predicted with the NT-proBNP and APACHE Ⅱ scores was 0.707 (95% CI: 0.552, 0.862) and 0.841(95% CI: 0.712, 0.961)，respectively. Conclusion Elevated NT-proBNP level indicate a poor prognosis of pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients. Its value in predicting the prognosis of pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients needs to be further studied.