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A simple blood test could change it all

If your patient is experiencing breathlessness, fatigue or swollen ankles, it could be heart failure.1

Order an NT-proBNP test, and if levels are elevated, refer the patient to a cardiologist for assessment and diagnosis.1,2

Many patients with heart failure symptoms are only diagnosed once hospitalised. An NT-proBNP test helps ensure your patients are referred to the right specialist, to receive the right diagnosis, at the right time.1–5

Think heart failure, test and refer

Learn more about heart failure
How to test and refer

Test and referral recommendations in the UK6,7

Your patient is experiencing breathlessness, fatigue or swollen ankles1

AstraZeneca Think heart failure
AstraZeneca Test NT-proBNP levels if heart failure is suspected
AstraZeneca
≥400 ng/L

Refer to a cardiologist for specialist assessment and transthoracic echocardiograph
AstraZeneca
>2000 ng/L
Urgent referral: to be seen within 2 weeks
400–2000 ng/L
Referral: to be seen within 6 weeks
<400 ng/L
Heart failure diagnosis less likely; consider alternative causes for symptoms
AstraZeneca
If there is still concern it may be heart failure consult a physician with subspecialty training in heart failure

Did you know that NT-proBNP testing is recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence6 and the European Society of Cardiology1 among other organisations?3
≥400 ng/L
<400 ng/L

Did you know that NT-proBNP testing is recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence6 and the European Society of Cardiology1 among other organisations?3

Refer to a cardiologist for specialist assessment and transthoracic echocardiograph
>2000 ng/L
Urgent referral: to be seen within 2 weeks
400–2000 ng/L
Referral: to be seen within 6 weeks

Did you know that NT-proBNP testing is recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence6 and the European Society of Cardiology1 among other organisations?3
<400 ng/L
Heart failure diagnosis less likely; consider alternative causes for symptoms
If there is still concern it may be heart failure consult a physician with subspecialty training in heart failure

The patient profiles displayed in this material are hypothetical

ESC, European Society of Cardiology; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; SIGN, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.

References

1. McDonagh TA, et al. Eur Heart J. 2021;42:3599–3726. 2. Verhestraeten C, et al. PLoS ONE. 2020;12:e0244485. 3. Heindenreich PA, et al. JACC. 2022;79:e263–e421. 4. Taylor CJ, et al. BMJ. 2019;364:1223. 5. Groenewegen A, et al. Eur J Heart Failure. 2020;22:1342–1356. 6. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Chronic heart failure in adults: diagnosis and management. 2018. Available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng106 (accessed September 2023). 7. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Management of chronic heart failure. 2016. Available at: https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign147.pdf (accessed September 2023).

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