Natriuretic Peptide Testing for Predicting Adverse Events Following Heart Failure Hospitalization

Concentrations of both B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) are useful for diagnostic evaluation of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), providing important information regarding presence and severity of heart failure. In addition, levels of both BNP and NT-proBNP are strongly prognostic for adverse outcomes in this setting. While values for BNP and NT-proBNP at hospital admission predict impending risk for adverse outcome, their measurement following HF treatment provides incremental prognostic information, even more accurately identifying patients at highest risk for death or rehospitalization in the short term. Thus, changes in BNP or NT-proBNP following treatment should be considered an important part of the pre-discharge decision making for patients hospitalized with ADHF.