Screening Evaluation of the Evolution of New Heart Failure (SCREEN-HF)

Measuring Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP)and can give us useful information about a persons heart function in patients with symptoms such as shortness of breath. This is because BNP/NT-proBNP levels rise when the heart is under pressure as it is in people with heart disease. However, we don't know if this is a useful test to do in people who are at a high risk of developing heart disease but who have no symptoms and have not been diagnosed with any heart problems.

In this study we hope to recruit 3500 participants. This study is being run in conjunction with HBA (recently renamed Bupa) and we estimate that 10,000 HBA members will need to be contacted by letter and invited to screen for this study to achieve the required 3500 (protocol amended to include people who meet the entry criteria but who are not insured through HBA).

This protocol has been amended to allow us to invite 50 participants with the lowest NT-proBNP levels to also continue in the study and have blood tests, an ECG and echocardiography as described below.

Participants will undergo a routine blood test which will include measuring NT-proBNP. Only participants in whom NT-proBNP is elevated will undergo additional blood tests (for cardiac markers), an ECG and echocardiography to determine if there is any indication that they do have heart disease even though they have not been diagnosed and are not symptomatic.