The relationship between glycemic control and BNP levels in diabetic patients

Abstract

Background: Glycemic control affects cardiovascular risk factors positively. The purpose of this study was to assess B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with poorly controlled diabetes before and after glycemic regulation was achieved.

Methods: The study was performed in a prospective design. The study population consisted of 79 consecutive diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Levels of fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), lipid parameters, and BNP were measured before the onset of the treatment and after glycemic regulation was achieved.

Results: A significant decrease in BNP (95.0 [4.0–1807] ng/L vs. 52.0 [2.1–987.0] ng/L, p < 0.001) levels were observed, after improving glycemic control. The decrease in BNP levels was positively correlated with the decrease in HbA_1c (r = 0.345, p = 0.003) and fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.366, p = 0.002). There was no correlation between the decrease in BNP levels and lipid parameters (p = NS).

Conclusions: We conclude that poor glycemic control may cause high levels of BNP which maylead to overdiagnosis of congestive heart failure. We suggest that HbA_1c and fasting plasma glucose should be checked in patients with high levels of BNP.