Measurement of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in dyspneic patients increases diagnostic accuracy for congestive heart failure (CHF). Limited information is available regarding economic outcomes attributable to BNP assay. The aim of this study was to assess the economic impact of BNP assay in elderly dyspneic patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).
Dyspneic patients 65 years were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial; hemodynamically unstable patients were excluded. BNP (Biosite assay) levels were measured prior to physician assessment with randomization in 1:1 ratio to either BNP 1) level reported or 2) level not reported. ED physicians made triage decisions guided by clinical judgment and nomogram to aid in interpretation of BNP level. Primary outcome was mean total hospital cost per subject. Secondary outcomes included admission rate, service assignment, discharge diagnosis and length of stay. Differences between groups were compared by t-test with bootstrap. Costs reflect 2005 constant dollars.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Saint Marys Hospital, Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Mean total hospital cost per subject
Time frame: spans from ED eval through hospitalization discharge
Included admission rate, service assignment, discharge diagnosis, and length of stay.
Time frame: from ED evaluation through hospitalization discharge
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