The risk score equation for Model 2 was: risk score = – 8.428 + 0.043 (age) + 0.915 (if congestive heart failure was positive) + 0.778 (if previous AIS/TIA was true) + 0.207 (NIHSS score) + 0.008 (CRP) + 0.016 (BNP) + 0.966 (if cortical infarction was positive). Here, NPPB is linked to congestive heart failure.