Serum blood urea nitrogen and long-term mortality in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Doron Aronson, Haim Hammerman, Rafael Beyar, Sergey Yalonetsky, Michael Kapeliovich, Walter Markiewicz, Alexander Goldberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Renal dysfunction is associated with increased mortality in acute coronary syndromes and other cardiovascular diseases. The prognostic value of kidney dysfunction has been investigated using creatinine-based measures of renal function. Few data are available on the prognostic significance of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a sensitive marker of hemodynamic alterations and renal perfusion. Methods: The relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), BUN on admission and changes in BUN during hospital course and long-term mortality was evaluated in 1507 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Results: During a median follow-up of 27 months (range, 12 to 44 months), 281 patients (18.6%) died. In multivariable Cox regression models, elevated BUN (≥ 25 mg/dL) at admission was an independent predictor of mortality after adjustments for clinical variables and eGFR (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.3, P = 0.0015). Similar results were obtained for elevated BUN/creatinine ratio (≥ 25) at admission (adjusted HR 2.0; 95% CI 1.4-2.8; P <0.0001). An increase in BUN 50% above admission value occurred in 260 of patients (17.3%) during hospital course, and was associated with increased risk of mortality after adjustments of clinical variables, eGFR and BUN on admission (HR, 1.7 95% CI 1.3-2.2; P <0.0001). Discussion: Elevated BUN and BUN/creatinine ratio on admission are independent predictors of long-term mortality in patients with STEMI. An increase in BUN level during hospital course portends adverse outcome independent of eGFR and BUN on admission.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)380-385
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Cardiology
Volume127
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 21 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood urea nitrogen
  • Glomerular filtration rate
  • Kidney
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Prognosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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