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. (DECLIC)

September 17, 2026 updated by: French Cardiology Society

This observational study aims to evaluate whether measuring NT-proBNP (or BNP), either on its own or alongside the EPOF questionnaire, can improve the early detection of chronic heart failure (CHF) in adults aged 40 years or over who are referred for an outpatient cardiology evaluation and have no known or suspected CHF.

The study will address the following questions:

Does systematic NT-proBNP (or BNP) testing help to identify previously unrecognised CHF? Does combining NT-proBNP (or BNP) with the EPOF questionnaire enhance diagnostic accuracy compared with using each tool alone? Participants will attend their routine cardiology consultation, complete the EPOF questionnaire and undergo NT-proBNP (or BNP) testing as part of the clinical assessment. They will also allow the collection of relevant medical data. The diagnostic performance of these tools will then be compared with the final diagnosis made by the outpatient cardiologist.

The study focuses on a population referred from primary care with increased cardiovascular risk. The early use of simple, accessible tools could reduce diagnostic delays, improve referral appropriateness and facilitate the earlier detection of CHF in general practice.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

1000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • France
      • Nîmes, France, 30900
        • Private Cardiology Practice
        • Contact:
      • Poitiers, France, 86000
        • Polyclinique de Poitiers - GCS ELSAN
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults aged 40 to 80 years with no known history of chronic heart failure (CHF), referred for an outpatient cardiology consultation at participating centers for reasons other than suspected CHF or any of the four EPOF signs. Participants underwent NT-proBNP or BNP measurement as part of routine clinical care, either before or during the cardiology consultation if considered clinically indicated by the treating cardiologist. The study is observational and does not require any additional diagnostic procedures or biomarker testing beyond routine clinical practice.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 40 to 80 years.
  • Referred for a cardiology consultation for a reason other than suspected chronic heart failure or any of the four EPOF signs.
  • Informed about the study and not objecting to participation, in accordance with applicable regulations.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known diagnosis of chronic heart failure (CHF).
  • Refusal to participate.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Adults ≥40 years referred for cardiology consultation without suspected chronic heart failure

Adults aged 40 years and older with no history of chronic heart failure (CHF), referred for a cardiology consultation at participating centers for reasons other than suspected CHF, and who underwent NT-proBNP or BNP measurement as part of routine clinical care. The biomarker measurement may have been performed before the consultation or ordered by the treating cardiologist during the consultation if considered clinically indicated, independently of study participation. The study does not require or mandate any additional NT-proBNP or BNP testing; participants are included only if a routine-care biomarker result is available.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sensitivity of the combined EPOF questionnaire and natriuretic peptide strategy for detecting chronic heart failure
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diagnostic performance of the EPOF questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline
Diagnostic performance of natriuretic peptide measurement
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline
Diagnostic performance of the combined EPOF + NT-proBNP strategy
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline
Diagnostic performance of the combined EPOF + BNP strategy
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline
Diagnostic performance in prespecified subgroups
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline
Prevalence of chronic heart failure
Time Frame: Baseline

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.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

French Cardiology Society

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 17, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-A00207-44

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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