Table 2 Subgroup analyses on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

From: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in the general population: A meta-analysis

Subgroup

No. of studies

Pooled HR

95% CI

Heterogeneity between studies

1. All-cause mortality

 Sample size

≥1,000

2

2.50

2.03–3.09

p = 0.575; I2 = 0%;

<1,000

6

2.39

1.95–2.93

p = 0.464; I2 = 0%

 Mean age

≥70 years

2

2.76

2.12–3.58

p = 0.596; I2 = 0%

<70 years

6

2.31

1.94–2.76

p = 0.702; I2 = 0%

 Follow-up duration

>5 years

5

2.36

1.98–2.82

p = 0.764; I2 = 0%

≤5 years

3

2.63

2.03–3.41

p = 0.342; I2 = 6.9%

 Region

Europe

5

2.43

1.98–2.98

p = 0.617; I2 = 0%

USA

2

2.42

1.95–2.99

p = 0.274; I2 = 0%

 Gender

Men

2

2.27

1.63–3.15

p = 0.519; I2 = 0%

Men + women

6

2.49

2.11–2.93

p = 0.581; I2 = 0%

 NT-proBNP value

Cutoff

4

2.12

1.62–2.77

p = 0.681; I2 = 0%

Quintile/Tertile

4

2.60

2.18–3.10

p = 0.716; I2 = 0%

 Adjustment for renal function

Yes

5

2.44

2.08–2.85

p = 0.617; I2 = 0%

No

3

2.49

1.69–3.69

p = 0.409; I2 = 0%

2. Cardiovascular mortality

 Sample size

≥1,000

4

3.63

2.46–5.37

p = 0.074; I2 = 56.8%;

<1,000

4

4.07

2.52–6.56

p = 0.174; I2 = 39.7%

 Mean age

≥70 years

2

5.10

3.33–7.81

p = 0.596; I2 = 0%

<70 years

6

3.40

2.45–4.70

p = 0.110; I2 = 44.3%

 Follow-up duration

>5 years

6

3.39

2.60–4.42

p = 0.174; I2 = 35%

≤5 years

2

6.10

3.48–10.50

p = 0.344; I2 = 0%

 Region

Europe

5

3.61

2.44–5.36

p = 0.152; I2 = 40.3%

USA

2

3.76

2.27–6.25

p = 0.056; I2 = 72.6%

 Gender

Men

3

3.02

2.00–4.55

p = 0.230; I2 = 32%

Men + women

5

4.56

2.98–6.96

p = 0.064; I2 = 54.9%

 NT-proBNP value

Cutoff

2

3.28

1.63–6.60

p = 0.110; I2 = 60.8%

Quintile/Tertile

6

4.00

2.83–5.66

p = 0.070; I2 = 50.9%

 Adjustment for renal function

Yes

7

3.68

2.69–5.04

p = 0.617; I2 = 0%

No

1

4.69

2.53–8.72

  1. HR, Hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.