Evaluation of the Clinical Value of NT-proBNP (or BNP) Measurement, Alone or in Combination With the EPOF Questionnaire, for the Screening of Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) in Adults Aged 40 Years and Older Referred for a Cardiology Consultation Without Suspected CHF.

Sensitivity (with 95% confidence interval) of the combined screening strategy defined as a positive EPOF questionnaire (EPOF score ≥1) and/or a positive natriuretic peptide result (NT-proBNP ≥125 ng/L or BNP ≥35 ng/L), using the final diagnosis of chronic heart failure established by the treating cardiologist after completion of the routine diagnostic work-up as the reference standard.

Diagnostic performance of the EPOF questionnaire and each of its individual components, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, using the final diagnosis of chronic heart failure established by the treating cardiologist after completion of the routine diagnostic work-up as the reference standard.

Diagnostic performance of a positive natriuretic peptide result (NT-proBNP ≥125 ng/L or BNP ≥35 ng/L), including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, using the final diagnosis of chronic heart failure established by the treating cardiologist after completion of the routine diagnostic work-up as the reference standard.

Diagnostic performance of the combined screening strategy defined as a positive EPOF questionnaire (EPOF score ≥1) and/or a positive NT-proBNP result (≥125 ng/L), including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, using the final diagnosis of chronic heart failure established by the treating cardiologist after completion of the routine diagnostic work-up as the reference standard.

Diagnostic performance of the combined screening strategy defined as a positive EPOF questionnaire (EPOF score ≥1) and/or a positive BNP result (≥35 ng/L), including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, using the final diagnosis of chronic heart failure established by the treating cardiologist after completion of the routine diagnostic work-up as the reference standard.

Diagnostic performance of the EPOF questionnaire, natriuretic peptide measurement, and the combined screening strategies in prespecified exploratory subgroups defined by sex (men and women), age (40-59 years and ≥60 years), and body mass index (<30 kg/m² and ≥30 kg/m²). Diagnostic performance measures include sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Prevalence of chronic heart failure, defined as the proportion of participants with a final diagnosis of chronic heart failure established by the treating cardiologist after completion of the routine diagnostic work-up, reported with the corresponding 95% confidence interval.