Point of Care NT-proBNP Testing for Suspected New Heart Failure Acute Care

Heart failure is a serious condition that can be difficult to diagnose quickly when patients present to hospital with symptoms such as breathlessness. Delays in diagnosis may delay treatment and adversely affect patient outcomes. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a blood biomarker recommended in national and international guidelines to support the diagnosis of heart failure. Conventional laboratory testing can take several hours before results are available. This study will evaluate the use of point-of-care NT-proBNP testing, which provides results at the bedside within approximately 12 minutes, in patients presenting to hospital with suspected new heart failure. The study will compare time to heart failure diagnosis, time to treatment initiation, length of hospital stay, 30-day hospital readmission, and 30-day mortality between patients receiving point-of-care NT-proBNP testing and a retrospective comparison cohort managed before its introduction. In addition, healthcare professionals involved in delivering the service will complete a questionnaire to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of implementing point-of-care NT-proBNP testing within routine clinical practice. The findings will help determine the clinical and operational impact of point-of-care NT-proBNP testing and inform future service development and research in heart failure care.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 years or older * Presenting with new suspected heart failure * Presenting with unexplained breathlessness suggestive of heart failure * Able to provide written informed consent * Has capacity to consent to study participation Exclusion Criteria: * Previous or existing clinical diagnosis of heart failure * Aged less than 18 years * Lacks capacity to provide informed consent * Acute myocardial infarction at presentation