Low NT-proBNP Levels in Overweight and Obese Patients Do Not Rule Out a Diagnosis of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstract

NT-proBNP was below the proposed diagnostic cut-off point of 125 pg/mL in half of this obese study cohort. Cardiac diastolic dysfunction and cardiorespiratory fitness were not significantly different between high and low NT-proBNP patients. These data indicate that excluding the diagnosis of HFpEF based solely on NT-proBNP levels should be discouraged.