Usefulness and predictive value of circulating NT-proBNP levels to stratify patients for referral and priority treatment in a specialized outpatient heart failure center.

Abstract

In heart failure patients referred to an outpatient specialized heart failure center, an upper tertile NT-proBNP level identified patients at high risk for mortality. A single high > 550 pg/ml NT-proBNP measurement appears to be useful for selecting patients for care in a heart failure center, and a level > 2000 pg/ml for assigning patients to high priority management.