Results
After 5.40 (2.81-6.94) years of follow-up, 59 patients received a CD. We divided the population in three subgroups: those not developing cancer during follow-up (group A; N=903), and those receiving a CD in the first 3 years of follow up (group B; N=30), or later (group C; N=29). At baseline, 3.3% of patients of group B, 0.0% in groups C and 12.3% in group A (p=0.036) presented a previous history of heart failure. In group B, NT-proBNP [HR 1.036 CI (1.015-1.056) per increase in 100 pg/ml; p=0.001], previous atrial fibrillation [HR 3.140 CI (1.196-8.243); p=0.020], and previous heart failure [HR 0.067 CI (0.006-0.802); p=0.033] were independent predictors of CD at multivariate analysis. In group C there were not significant predictors of a CD.
Conclusions In patients with CAD, NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of CD in the first three years of follow-up, but not later, suggesting that it could be detecting subclinical undiagnosed cancers. New studies in large populations are needed to confirm these findings.
Keywords: Coronary artery disease, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, cancer.