Heart failure is one of the fastest growing CV conditions in Canada. Over 750,000 Canadians have it, another 100,000 develop heart failure each year, and almost 50% die within five years of diagnosis. The majority of these patients are ambulatory, meaning that the initial suspicion and diagnosis of heart failure rests with their family physician. But the diagnosis of heart failure can be difficult through history and examination alone, especially in elderly patients with non-specific dyspnea and other comorbidities. That's where the natriuretic peptides (NPs) come in.

Certain biomarkers can revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of common CV conditions. Think of LDL-cholesterol for predicting and reducing risk of atherosclerotic CVD, or troponin levels for diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndromes. Similarly, NPs have revolutionized the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure. And with wider availability of NP testing and provincial coverage, now is a good time for primary care physicians to become familiarized with when and how to use NPs for the diagnosis of heart failure.

What are natriuretic peptides?