OBJECTIVETo establish the normal ranges for plasma N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) of middle-aged and elderly ( ≥ 40 years) healthy subjects in China.

METHODSA total of 5133 subjects (2170 men and 2963 women) from the cohort of Shanghai Heart Health Study (SHHS) were included in this study. Plasma NT-proBNP was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The reference values (2.5th- 97.5th quartiles) were determined using both empiric and quantile regression methods.

RESULTSPlasma NT-proBNP values were higher in women than in men at all respective age groups (all P < 0.01) , and natural log-transformed NT-proBNP values increased in proportion with age for both genders and there was a lineal correlation between natural log-transformed NT-proBNP values and age (all P < 0.01) . Quantile regression derived normal reference values for NT-proBNP in male were 4.5-86.8 ng/L in the 40-44 years old group, 5.4-108.5 ng/L in the 45-49 years old group, 6.6-135.5 ng/L in the 50-54 years old group, 7.9-169.4 ng/L in the 55-59 years old group, 9.6-211.7 ng/L in the 60-64 years old group, 11.7-264.6 ng/L in the 65-69 years old group, 14.2-330.7 ng/L in the 70-74 years old group, and 18.1-429.2 ng/L in the ≥ 75 years old group. The reference values in female for NT-pro-BNP in respective age group were 8.5-141.8 ng/L, 10.4-166.6 ng/L, 12.8-195.7 ng/L, 15.7-229.9 ng/L, 19.3-270.1 ng/L, 23.7-317.3 ng/L, 29.1-372.8 ng/L, and 35.7-451.9 ng/L.

CONCLUSIONThis study preliminarily establishes the normal ranges of plasma NT-proBNP in middle-aged and elderly ( ≥ 40 years) Chinese.