Publications by authors named "Barbara Frana"
Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a quantitative marker of heart failure that seems to be helpful in its diagnosis.
Methods: We performed a prospective randomized study (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide for Acute Shortness of Breath Evaluation) including 452 patients who presented to the emergency department with acute dyspnea to estimate the long-term cost-effectiveness of BNP guidance. Participants were randomly assigned to a diagnostic strategy involving the measurement of BNP levels (n = 225) or assessment in a standard manner (n = 227).
Background: In patients with pulmonary disease, it is often challenging to distinguish exacerbated pulmonary disease from congestive heart failure (CHF). The impact of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements on the management of patients with pulmonary disease and acute dyspnea remains to be defined.
Methods: This study evaluated the subgroup of 226 patients with a history of pulmonary disease included in the BASEL Study.
Background: The most useful features in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) have been poorly investigated.
Objective: To determine the utility of signs and symptoms in the diagnosis of CHF in the emergency department.
Methods: Detailed clinical data were collected prospectively from 452 consecutive patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department.
In studies with predominately male patients, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been shown to be helpful in the evaluation and management of patients who present with acute dyspnea. The effect of BNP levels on the management of women has not been defined. This study evaluated a predefined subgroup of 190 women included in a prospective randomized controlled study of BNP testing for emergency diagnosis of acute dyspnea.
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