NPPB and heart failure: The key findings of the present study are that (I) elevated CRP and TnI levels are associated with inflammatory cardiomyopathy in patients with non-ischemic, non valvular heart failure; (II) TnI levels ≥ 136.5 pg/ml and CRP levels ≥ 8.15 mg/l are potential predictors of myocardial inflammation; (III) common heart failure biomarkers such as BNP and reduced LVEF were not predictive for myocardial inflammation and; (IV) GLS might add a benefit to predict myocardial inflammation when combined with TnI.