Empiric NT-proBNP Cut-Points for Diagnosing Acute Heart Failure

Age-dependent cutoffs seem to be useful for the diagnosis of patients with acute dyspnea.

Natriuretic peptides are used to ascertain the likelihood that heart failure (HF) is accounting for patients' symptoms of dyspnea. The FDA has approved an assay using N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for this purpose, with recommended cut-points of 125 pg/mL for people aged <75 and 450 pg/mL for older persons. However, other studies have suggested using age-varying cutoffs to “rule in” HF and an age-independent value to exclude HF. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional, manufacturer-funded, multicenter study to assess the diagnostic properties of age-varying cut-points for NT-proBNP in properly categorizing HF in a contemporary cohort of 1461 people with dyspnea (mean age, 56; 49% women) presenting to emergency depart…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

Empiric NT-proBNP Cut-Points for Diagnosing Acute Heart Failure

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Reviewing Author