NPPB and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a biomarker of cardiomyocyte injury, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a marker of left ventricular wall stress, have both been associated with increased HF risk.20–22 NT-proBNP and cTnT have been shown to be raised in patients hospitalised with COPD.7, 8, 9 Whether such changes are seen in those with mild airflow obstruction or low normal lung function has been little studied in the general older population.