Diagnostic (In)accuracy in Patients with Dyspnea

Natriuretic peptide testing adds diagnostic value to physician judgment in determining which dyspneic patients have congestive heart failure in the ED.

Both dyspnea and exacerbations of congestive heart failure are common complaints in emergency medicine practice. Determining which dyspneic patients have congestive heart failure and which do not is a challenge. Researchers reviewed data from the PRIDE (ProBNP Investigation of Dyspnea in the Emergency Department) study to determine the role of natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) testing in making this distinction.

After a standard clinical evaluation of a patient with dyspnea, the treating clinician, who had access to all standard diagnostic tests available (but not proBNP level), was asked to estimate from 0% to 100% the likelihood that the patient had acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Estimates of ≥80% or ≤20% were considered to reflec…

Reviewing Author

J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesKlint Law Firm

Editorial boardsCritical Decisions in Emergency Medicine

J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesKlint Law Firm

Editorial boardsCritical Decisions in Emergency Medicine