UMEM Educational Pearls

  • B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a useful prognostic biomarker in patients with reduced LVEF, but data in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is minimal
  • A recent study sought to determine the prognostic value of BNP in patients with HFPEF in comparison to data in HF patients with reduced left ventricular EF <40%
  • 615 patients with mild to moderate HF were followed for 18 months and BNP was measured at baseline and related to the primary outcomes (mortality and HF hospitalization)
  • BNP levels were significantly higher in patients with reduced LVEF than in those with HFPEF (p < 0.001), however the risk of adverse outcomes and prognosis in patients with HFPEF is as poor as in those with reduced LVEF  

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction. Veldhuisen D, Linssen G, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013; 61:1498-506