Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesResearch article
Evaluation of a combined symptom-based questionnaire and capillary natriuretic peptides testing for early detection of heart failure: a Heart Failure Awareness Days nationwide screening study (DEPIC FR)
- nationwide screening study
- community-based campaign
- 21 hospital cardiology centres across France
- two-step screening strategy
Authors' conclusion
Combining symptom assessment with NT-proBNP testing improves early identification of at-risk individuals and may help uncover a significant proportion of undiagnosed or early-stage HF.
Study context
- Population
- Adults without known heart failure (HF) in Franceadults screened
- Participants
- 2,481 adults
- Comparison
- Symptom-based questionnaire against capillary NT-proBNP >125 pg/mL
- NT-proBNP >125 pg/mLn = 419
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
NT-proBNP >125 pg/mL
Individuals exceeding threshold
419 individuals (16.9%)
Asymptomatic, of those with NT-proBNP >125 pg/mL
36.5%
At least one symptom, of those with NT-proBNP ≤125 pg/mL
30.5%
Further findings
Symptom-based screening accuracy for NT-proBNP >125 pg/mL
- ≥1 symptom sensitivity
- 63.2%
- ≥1 symptom specificity
- 42.4%
- Dyspnoea sensitivity (most sensitive symptom)
- 47.7%
- Weight gain specificity (highest)
- 84.7%
- Negative predictive value, absence of both symptoms and NT-proBNP elevation
- 85.4%
- Symptom-based screening alone had limited diagnostic accuracy
Cardiologist-led evaluation, of the 198 with NT-proBNP >125 pg/mL
- Symptomatic HF (Stage C), of the 198 evaluated
- 40.9%
- Preclinical HF (Stage B), of the 198 evaluated
- 24.2%
Original publication
Evaluation of a combined symptom-based questionnaire and capillary natriuretic peptides testing for early detection of heart failure: a Heart Failure Awareness Days nationwide screening study (DEPIC FR). Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 9 January 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaf164
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it