: A simple blood test could help identify heart failure patients in need of urgent treatment and close monitoring, say US researchers.

The test is based on blood levels of a hormone called B-type natriuretic peptide, which is released by the heart when it is stressed or damaged.

Dr Gregg Fonarow, from University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues studied data on more than 48,000 heart failure patients whose blood levels of B-type natriuretic peptide were measured within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital.

They found that patients with low levels of the hormone in their blood were significantly less likely to die during their hospital stay than those with high levels.

Further analysis revealed a significant association between blood levels of B-type natriuretic peptide and a patient’s risk of dying from heart failure.

The findings remained true after taking into account each patient’s age, gender, blood pressure levels and other measures.

“We were very surprised that this blood test was so highly predictive of mortality across a broad population of heart failure patients and range of BNP levels,” said Dr Fonarow.

He said the test, which is quick to perform and delivers results rapidly, could be used to identify patients who need close monitoring and intensive treatment.

Dr Fonarow concluded: “This is the first study to definitively demonstrate a connection between B-type natriuretic peptide and in-hospital mortality risk among heart failure patients.

“We hope the findings will help physicians more effectively stratify risk and guide treatment.”