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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new study finds that older adults who develop or sustain elevated "heart stress" — measured by NT-proBNP levels — face significantly higher risks of cardiovascular disease and death. The good news? Those whose heart stress resolved had risks comparable to those who never had it. Monitoring this biomarker over time could help doctors better identify who needs closer attention.
A large observational study published in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that tracking changes in heart stress over time — using a biomarker called NT-proBNP — can meaningfully predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in older adults. Researchers analyzed data from over 8,400 adults (average age 78) with no prior CVD, measuring NT-proBNP at enrollment and again three years later.
Adults who developed new heart stress or had persistently elevated levels faced notably higher risks compared to those who remained stress-free. Encouragingly, those whose heart stress resolved saw their risk return to near-normal levels, suggesting the condition isn't necessarily a one-way street.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: For clinicians caring for older patients, serial NT-proBNP testing could become a practical tool for proactive risk stratification — helping identify who may benefit from earlier or more aggressive cardiovascular intervention.
