NPPB and vascular disorder: Galasko [17] reported that female gender and increasing age were the only independent predictors of increased NT-proBNP levels in subjects with no history of IHD, HF, DM, hypertension, CVD, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), loop diuretic usage, a history of heavy alcohol intake, LVEF < 50% and GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.