In conclusion, in an elderly HF population, hospitalized with signs and symptoms of congestive HF (more than a third of the sample females, with a moderate neurohormonal activation and more than half of the sample presenting an impaired LVEF), BNP is related not only with clinical, laboratory, and instrumental data that are usually assessed in HF patients but also with multidimensional scales evaluating global status; furthermore, also in this large single-centre population, higher BNP levels are linked with a worse prognosis in terms of mortality and readmission at 6 months. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is hydrops fetalis.