Aims/hypothesis  

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels on the management of patients with diabetes presenting with acute dyspnoea.

Methods  

This study evaluated the subgroup of 103 patients with diabetes included in the B-type Natriuretic Peptide for Acute Shortness of Breath Evaluation (BASEL) study (n=452). Patients were randomly assigned to a diagnostic strategy with (n=47, BNP group) or without (n=56, control group) the use of BNP levels assessed by a rapid bedside assay. Time to discharge and total cost of treatment were recorded as the primary endpoints.

Results  

Although similar with regard to age and sex, patients with diabetes more often had pre-existing cardiovascular and renal disease and heart failure as the cause of acute dyspnoea compared with patients without diabetes. In addition, medical and economic outcomes were worse in patients with diabetes. The use of BNP levels significantly reduced time to discharge (median 9 days [interquartile range (IQR) 2–16] in the BNP group vs 13 days [IQR 8–22] in the control group; p=0.016). At 30 days, the diabetic patients in the BNP group had spent significantly fewer days in hospital compared with the diabetic patients in the control group (9 days [IQR 2–19] vs 16 days [IQR 8–24], respectively; p=0.008). Total treatment costs at 30 days were US$5,705 (IQR 2,285–9,137) in the BNP group and US$5,705 (IQR 2,285–9,137) in the BNP group and US7,420 (IQR 4,194–11,966) in the control group (p=0.036).

Conclusions/interpretation  

The results of this study indicate that measurement of BNP levels improves the management of patients with diabetes presenting with acute dyspnoea.