Plasma mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide predicts cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes independently of subclinical organ damage.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma MR-proANP and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a middle-aged population with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: MR-proANP was measured in 690 patients with type 2 diabetes participating in the epidemiological study CARDIPP (Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes-a Prospective Study in Primary Care). The outcome variables were incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. Patients were followed using the national Swedish Cause of Death Registry and the Inpatient Register.

Results: During the mean follow-up period of 10.8 years, MACE occurred in 111 patients and 102 patients died. The hazard ratio for an increment of MR-proANP of 1 pmol/l adjusted for sex, age, current smoking, previous CVD, HbA1c, serum cholesterol, eGFR, systolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, aortic pulse wave velocity, left ventricular mass and intima media thickness in the carotid arteries was 1.007 (95% CI 1.000-1.013, P = 0.042) for MACE and 1.008 (95% CI 1.001-1.014, P = 0.017) for all-cause mortality.

Conclusions: Elevated MR-proANP levels predict an increased risk for MACE and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes independently of CVD risk factors and markers for subclinical organ damage.