Natriuretic peptide guided therapy in outpatient heart failure management

Abstract

An increased focus on precision outpatient heart failure management has the potential to decrease the significant morbidity, mortality and cost associated with heart failure hospitalization. Natriuretic peptides represent an objective and reproducible surrogate measurement of cardiac function and volume status which is widely available in the ambulatory setting. Initial trials using natriuretic peptides to guide therapy in ambulatory heart failure patients have shown promise in decreasing associated morbidity and mortality, however, have been limited by significant interstudy variability in inclusion criteria, threshold natriuretic peptide levels and implementation of therapeutic intervention.