Recent advances in point-of-care testing for natriuretic peptides: potential impact on heart failure diagnosis and management.

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The presenting symptoms of heart failure are often nonspecific. The diagnosis of heart failure has traditionally relied heavily upon clinical exam findings, which are often subjective and have low sensitivity. Efficient and rapid diagnosis of heart failure in the emergency room setting can reduce health care costs, hospital admission and ER visits, and improve patient care. Natriuretic peptides are objective biomarkers that can help with diagnosis, prognosis and management of heart failure. The most extensively studied and clinically utilized natriuretic peptides include brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP). Point-of-care testing in the emergency room setting can result in faster triage times. Point-of-care testing can also be utilized in the outpatient setting for real-time management of patients with heart failure.