Growth-differentiation factor-15 for early risk stratification in patients with acute chest pain

Aims Growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has emerged as a biomarker of increased mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) in patients diagnosed with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. We explored the usefulness of GDF-15 for early risk stratification in 479 unselected patients with acute chest pain. Methods and results Sixty-nine per cent of the patients presented with GDF-15 levels above the previously defined upper reference limit (1200 ng/L). The risks of the composite endpoint of death or (recurrent) MI after 6 months were 1.3, 5.1, and 12.6% in patients with normal ( 1800 ng/L) levels of GDF-15 on admission, respectively ( P < 0.001). By multivariable analysis that included clinical characteristics, ECG findings, peak cardiac troponin I levels within 2 h (cTnI0–2 h), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and cystatin C, GDF-15 remained an independent predictor of the composite endpoint. The ability of the ECG combined with peak cTnI0–2 h to predict the composite endpoint was markedly improved by addition of GDF-15 ( c -statistic, 0.74 vs. 0.83; P < 0.001). Conclusion GDF-15 improves risk stratification in unselected patients with acute chest pain and provides prognostic information beyond clinical characteristics, the ECG, and cTnI.