NPPB and Stroke: The univariate analysis revealed that severe mitral valve regurgitation (MVR), presence of CRT-D during ES, diabetes type 2, stroke and/or a transient ischaemic attack, a lower baseline haematocrit level, a higher NT-pro-BNP level, a higher C-reactive protein (CRP) level and infective endocarditis as a potentially reversible cause of ES were significant prognostic predictors for all-cause mortality.