My 88 year old mother just left hospital and is in nursing home.
My niece sent me an email after reviewing test results of my mom while in the hospital.
Below is what my niece sent me - What should I do - I mostly do not understand this

Below is what my niece sent me
Here is what I see in the test results.

1. I see highly elevated levels of B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) which indicates how well the heart is working. I see the diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heart beat) on 7/26 which can decrease the ability of the heart to work well. According to the Cleveland Clinic, normal levels of BNP are less than 99pg/ml, levels higher than 900pg/ml indicate severe heart failure. Mor Mor's test results on 8/5 were 1295pg/ml and on 8/6 they went higher - 1383pg/ml.

2. I see elevated levels of Blood Urea Nitrogen, an indicator of kidney function. Elevated levels can also be caused by UTI (which is clear now...), dehydration, and congestive heart failure. Generally levels range between 7 & 20 mg/dl. Mor Mor's test results show a continuous upward trend from 22 mg/dl on 8/3, increasing daily to 33 mg/dl as of 8/7.

3. I see her creatinine levels increasing and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreasing, both indicators of kidney function as well.

Standard levels of creatinine range from 0.6 - 1.3 mg/dl. Mor Mor's fluctuated between .95mg/dl (7/27) and 1.50mg/dl (8/7).
GFR is measured as a percentage of kidney function, standard being greater than 90. Chronic Kidney Disease is diagnosed at 6 different levels, 1 greater than 90% (normal), 2 greater than 59% (mildly reduced), 3A greater than 44% (moderately reduced), 3B greater than 29% (moderately reduced), 4 greater than 14% (severely reduced), 5, less than 15 (very severely reduced). Mor Mor's level on 7/23 was 39%. It has fluctuated as high as 56% (7/27), and has been declining since 8/5. Last test resulted in her lowest level - 33%.

Here is my concern...are any of the doctors talking about congestive heart failure or chronic kidney disease? If so, are they treating for it? I can't readily tell from the scrips she is taking. If not, why?? And what is her prognosis given these results?

If you send me the doc's info I would be happy to talk to them about it.

~me