Review: Electrocardiography, BNP, and N terminal-pro BNP are more sensitive than specific for chronic left ventricular systolic dysfunction

摘要

Diagnosis of HF is challenging. In a diagnostic accuracy study in whichnthe “gold standard” was the clinical consensus of 2 cardiologists whonhad all clinical information except BNP levels, including the echocardiographicnresults, they disagreed in 21% of patients (1). Given hownfrequently we misdiagnose HF (2), we need to find methods thatnimprove the accuracy of diagnosis, particularly early in the process suchnas in primary care settings.