About this course

While heart failure (HF) is a major healthcare problem in Hong Kong, stark differences have been observed in mortality and outcomes between patients with and without reductions in the cardiac biomarker N-terminal–pro hormone BNP (NT-proBNP).

In this module, we will:

• Examine the science behind NT-proBNP synthesis
• Review the studies that have led to NT-proBNP recommendation in major international guidelines
• Discuss the optimal timing and prognostic value of NT-proBNP measurements to support patients at each stage of HF management

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module, participants should be able to:

• Acknowledge the burden of HF and the advantages of early diagnosis
• Rule out HF using evidence-based clinical cut-offs for NT-proBNP, including age-based cut-offs
• Identify guideline recommendations for each stage of HF management, including acute and chronic AF, with the use of NT-proBNP
• Describe the value of NT-proBNP in stratifying risk for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

Topics covered

• Burden of HF in Hong Kong
• Unmet clinical needs for HF management
• Overview and international guidelines on NT-proBNP as an HF biomarker
• Using NT-proBNP for HF diagnosis
• Using NT-proBNP for in-hospital monitoring of HF
• Using NT-proBNP for monitoring of chronic HF
• HF risk stratification in patients with T2DM