BACKGROUND: Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is 
regarded as a sensitive marker of cardiovascular disease. Vascular disease plays 
an important role in cognitive impairment.
METHOD: In 447 elderly patients with mental illness, serum NT-proBNP level and 
the presence or absence of vascular disease according to the medical record were 
used to categorize patients in different subgroups of vascular disease.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Patients with vascular disease and elevated serum 
NT-proBNP level had a lower cognition level, shorter survival time, lower renal 
function and a higher percentage of pathological brain imaging than patients 
with vascular disease and normal NT-proBNP level. Thus, elevated serum NT-proBNP 
level might be helpful to detect patients who have a more severe cardiovascular 
disease.