NPPB and rheumatic heart disease: The CE subgroup, on the other hand, had a significantly higher association with congestive heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, clinically significant clotting disorders, left ventricular hypertrophy, lower ejection fraction, higher left atrial size, higher pro-BNP and higher mean troponin level as compared to the vascular group (Table 2).