Simple Blood Test Predicts Hidden Heart Failure Risk in Diabetes Patients
Screening natriuretic peptide levels in 116,466 diabetes patients without known heart failure predicted future heart failure and death.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Elevated natriuretic peptide levels in diabetes patients without known heart failure predicted incident heart failure and death.
Key Numbers
N=116,466 (2,990 T1D; 113,476 T2D); ~40% had elevated NP; NT-proBNP 125-300: HR 2.04 (T1D), 2.25 (T2D); NT-proBNP >300: HR 4.48 (T1D), 3.58 (T2D); up to 7-year follow-up.
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort using Optum Market Clarity data with multivariable Cox proportional hazard models in 116,466 adults.
Why This Research Matters
Early detection of heart failure in diabetes could trigger disease-modifying therapies (like SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1 drugs) before symptoms appear.
The Bigger Picture
This supports routine natriuretic peptide screening in diabetes as a strategy to catch heart failure early, when interventions are most effective.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective claims-based study — testing was clinically indicated rather than universal screening. Selection bias possible.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should all diabetes patients be routinely screened with natriuretic peptides?
- ?At what peptide threshold should disease-modifying therapy be initiated?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 116,466 patients Large cohort showing natriuretic peptide screening predicts heart failure in diabetes without known HF
- Evidence Grade:
- Large retrospective cohort with Cox regression — strong association data but screening benefit needs prospective trial confirmation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 in Diabetes Care, supporting evolving screening recommendations.
- Original Title:
- Screening Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predicts Heart Failure and Death in Individuals With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Without Known Heart Failure.
- Published In:
- Diabetes care, 48(12), 2145-2153 (2025)
- Authors:
- Pop-Busui, Rodica(5), Repetto, Enrico, Baron, Jason, Schumacher, Dagmar, Vaduganathan, Muthiah, Pandey, Ambarish
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13083
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What are natriuretic peptides?
Blood markers (NT-proBNP and BNP) released by the heart under stress — elevated levels can indicate early heart failure even before symptoms appear.
Should diabetes patients get heart failure screening?
This study suggests natriuretic peptide testing can identify at-risk diabetes patients early, potentially allowing earlier treatment.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13083APA
Pop-Busui, Rodica; Repetto, Enrico; Baron, Jason; Schumacher, Dagmar; Vaduganathan, Muthiah; Pandey, Ambarish. (2025). Screening Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predicts Heart Failure and Death in Individuals With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Without Known Heart Failure.. Diabetes care, 48(12), 2145-2153. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc25-1260
MLA
Pop-Busui, Rodica, et al. "Screening Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predicts Heart Failure and Death in Individuals With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Without Known Heart Failure.." Diabetes care, 2025. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc25-1260
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Screening Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predicts Heart Failure ..." RPEP-13083. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/pop-busui-2025-screening-natriuretic-peptide-levels
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.