BNP improves outcomes in evaluation of dyspnoea

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7451.0-f

BMJ 2004;328 (29 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7451.0-f

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BNP improves outcomes in evaluation of dyspnoea

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Question Does use of the test for B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) in the diagnosis of acute dyspnoea improve patients' outcomes?

Synopsis Too often, new tests are introduced without a carefulexamination of their effect on patient oriented outcomes. Accuracyalone is not reason enough to adopt a test; a more importantreason is that its use helps patients live better or longerlives. We should also know whether is adds or reduces cost.There is previous convincing evidence that B-type natriureticpeptide is accurate in diagnosing heart failure in patientspresenting with acute dyspnoea ( N Engl J Med 2002;106: 416-22).This latest randomised controlled trial (single blinded) studyis the first to look at the larger impact of this test's usein clinical practice. Of 665 consecutive adults presenting toa Swiss emergency department with acute dyspnoea, 452 met theinclusion criteria. Patients with an obvious traumatic cause,. . . [Full text of this article]