NPPB and nutritional deficiency disease: Previous studies have also reported association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and malnutrition assessed using the subjective global assessment and malnutrition-inflammation score [7, 8] and it was suggested that PEW might have a direct effect on the level of NT-proBNP by affecting ventricular remodeling in HD patients [7].