Key result
General practitioners and cardiologists reported similar rates of using BNP/NT-proBNP measurement to exclude a diagnosis of heart failure (57% vs 48%, p=0.56).
Why the study?
Does knowledge regarding BNP/NT-proBNP measurement differ between general practitioners and cardiologists?
Cross-Sectional (n=44)
Does knowledge regarding BNP/NT-proBNP measurement differ between general practitioners and cardiologists?
Many physicians, including cardiologists, lack awareness of how gender and obesity affect natriuretic peptide levels, suggesting lab reports should include adjusted cut-offs.
AIMS: To elucidate the knowledge regarding B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)/N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) measurement among doctors using this biomarker. MATERIALS & METHODS: We performed a questionnaire-based study on the use of BNP/NT-proBNP measurement among doctors; 21 general practitioners and 23 randomly chosen doctors at cardiology departments were interviewed. RESULTS: 12 general practitioners (57%) answered 'yes', eight (38%) answered 'no' and one (5%) was 'undecided' for use of BNP/NT-proBNP measurement to exclude a diagnosis of heart failure. Among cardiologists, 11 (48%) answered 'yes', ten (43%) answered 'no' and two (9%) were 'undecided' (no difference between groups, p = 0.56). The majority of doctors were familiar with BNP/NT-proBNP being affected by age but were unaware of the impact of gender and obesity. CONCLUSION: We propose that BNP/NT-proBNP measurement results should be supplied with age- and gender-related cut-off values, along with a notion of the negative predictive value and other parameters affecting the concentration in plasma.
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Husby et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Knowledge regarding BNP/NT-proBNP measurement (n=44). General practitioner status vs. Cardiologist status was evaluated on Use of BNP/NT-proBNP measurement to exclude a diagnosis of heart failure (p=0.56). General practitioners and cardiologists reported similar rates of using BNP/NT-proBNP measurement to exclude a diagnosis of heart failure (57% vs 48%, p=0.56).
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