What are the potential trade-offs between clinical benefits and harms of Natriuretic Peptide monitoring in the general heart failure population?
In people under 75 years of age, Natriuretic Peptide (NP) monitoring was associated with a clinically important reduction in deaths (58 fewer per thousand (from 103 fewer to 0 fewer)) and admissions (68 fewer per thousand (from 136 fewer to 4 more)) without a substantial increase in the incidence of adverse events. In people aged 75 and older, NP monitoring may result in clinically significant increase in numbers of deaths and admissions, with an average of 59 extra deaths per thousand (from 56 fewer to 200 more) and 24 extra admissions (from 47 fewer to 91 more). In terms of adverse events, there was a suggestion that people aged 75 years and older receiving NP monitoring may be more likely to develop hyperkalaemia and hypotension, although there was no clinically significant difference in the incidence of renal failure.