In people with suspected heart failure who also have atrial fibrillation, what thresholds of N-terminus pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are most accurate in identifying heart failure (as indicated by the reference standard)?
The population of this study includes people with atrial fibrillation and suspected heart failure in a community or outpatient setting. The index tests used in this study are NT-proBNP and BNP, and the reference standard is a clinical diagnosis based on the opinion of at least one cardiologist, considering symptoms (potentially with some signs) and objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction (either structural or functional). The study design is single gate studies (cohort/cross-sectional). The statistical measures used are diagnostic accuracy of BNP and NT-proBNP: 2x2 tables, specificity, sensitivity, PPV/NPV, ROC curve or Area under Curve for Chronic Heart Failure Diagnosing heart failure.