Fawad A, Bergmann A, Schulte J, et al. - In a middle-aged cohort, findings revealed that the association between Pro-NT and total mortality risk was primarily driven by cardiovascular mortality, but high Pro-NT was also found as a predictor of death from digestive, mental and behavioral disease and deaths due to unspecific reasons.

• A population-based middle-aged cohort (n=4632, mean age 57 years) of MDC study was examined to assess the prediction of Pro-NT on total and cause-specific mortality.

• In participants in the highest quartile (Q) of Pro-NT (Q4, Pro-NT ≥149 pmol/L), a significantly elevated death risk was evident vs Q 1-3 (Pro-NT <149 pmol/L), hazard ratio (HR) was 1.29.

• There was no significant interaction between Pro-NT and gender on death risk.

• For death due to cardiovascular disease, digestive tract disease, mental and behavioral disease, and unspecific causes, HRs of 1.41, 2.53, 1.62, and 1.91, respectively, were reported in participants within Q4 vs Q 1-3.

• No significant association was found between Pro-NT and deaths attributable to cancer, infections, neurological or other causes.

• These findings were only marginally altered on adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors.