Heart Failure Diagnosis — EECC MCQ

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EasyHeart FailureHeart Failure DiagnosisEECC

Which of the following NT-proBNP thresholds is used to exclude heart failure in a patient presenting with acute breathlessness to the emergency department?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — Less than 300 pg/mL

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · D = shown as B · A = shown as C · B = shown as D

Per the 2021 ESC HF Guidelines, NT-proBNP below 300 pg/mL has a high negative predictive value and is used to rule out acute heart failure. For non-acute presentations, the threshold is lower at below 125 pg/mL (C). Option A (100 pg/mL) is the BNP threshold, not NT-proBNP. Options D and E are not standard thresholds.

Reference: ESC (2021): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure