NPPB and congestive heart failure: The clinical diagnosis of CHF was adjudicated by independent experts, who were blinded to the results of the BNP/NT-proBNP assay, according to the summary chart and echocardiographic findings; usual exclusion criteria were severe renal insufficiency, patients whose dyspnea was clearly not secondary to CHF (chest trauma), and dyspnea secondary to severe coronary ischemia.