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Using data from nearly 3,000 patients who participated in the Copenhagen City Heart Study, researchers found that those with dyspnea (n=959) had significantly higher levels of pro-BNP than healthy counterparts. Heart conditions were responsible for a 2.6-fold increase in pro-BNP levels in those with dyspnea, compared to those without heart conditions, but pulmonary dysfunction was not associated with any increase of pro-BNP levels in those with dyspnea. After adjusting for age and gender differences, researchers found smaller but significant differences in pro-BNP levels among those with heart conditions compared to those without.

"Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of measuring pro-BNP to distinguish cardiac versus pulmonary dyspnea in the emergency room setting, but ours is the first to successfully assess the source of dyspnea among the general population based on pro-BNP," said Rasmus Mogelvang, M.D., of the University of Copenhagen and lead author of the study. "Given the importance of understanding which type of dyspnea is present, our hope is that measuring pro-BNP will be used frequently as a screening tool in both emergency and non-emergency settings to help doctors evaluate their patients likelihood of heart disease and treat accordingly."

Dr. Mogelvang will present this study Tuesday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. in Hall A.