When stratified according to the optimal cutoff value of the preoperative serumBNP concentration equal to 150 pg/dl, the group of patients with BNP greaterthan or equal to 150 mg/dl was older (58 years versus 62 years,P=0.010), higher body mass index (28 kg/m2versus 26 kg/m2, P=0.010), in thepresence of acute coronary syndrome (20% versus 47%,P<0.0010, urgency/emergency surgery 21%versus 54%, P<0.001), higher rate ofthe left ventricular dysfunction (9.9% versus 29%,P<0.001), intra-aortic balloon use (8.1%versus 18%, P=0.027) and higher EuroSCOREadditive (2 versus 3, P<0.001) (Table 1). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and acute coronary syndrome.