Since GDF-15 has previously been shown to have diagnostic utility in HFpEF, with similarly or even more elevated levels as compared with patients with HFrEF, and seems to be less influenced by concomitant AF in patients with HF as shown in the present study, it could perhaps be a suitable companion marker next to NT-proBNP to diagnose the presence or absence of HFpEF in patients presenting with AF [9, 24, 25]. Here, GDF15 is linked to hydrops fetalis.