CRP and heart failure: Mantel-Haenszel tests showed no statistically significant effect modification of the association between NT-proBNP and mortality by any of the covariables listed in Table 2, and the following variables were included in the initial multivariable model: age, gender, BMI, history of heart failure, atrial fibrillation on admission, peripheral edema, cephalization of the lung veins, CRP, and hs-cTnT.