NPPB and heart failure: Schelbert et al. have shown that ECV measures were strongly associated with log-transformed BNP levels in a subcohort of patients (n = 397) with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or at risk for heart failure (univariable β linear regression coefficient = 0.338 [standard error (SE) 0.050], p < 0.001; multivariable β = 0.254 (SE 0.053], p < 0.001)5.