Accordingly, NT-proBNP is a good diagnostic/prognostic marker of heart overload or HF with a high negative predictive value, but it also shows a good positive predictive value in older patients; it is increased in a high percentage of cases of COPD in the elderly, as demonstrated by a retrospective study by Sarzani et al. [132] that included 403 elderly patients (mean age, 88.1 ± 5.1 years) who had been hospitalized for different conditions other than HF. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.