NPPB and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: In the blood tests, the COPD patients presented with mild renal failure (a median creatinine value of 0.97 mg/dL, corresponding to a median estimated glomerular filtration rate of 83 mL/min/m2) [28], mild hypercholesterolemia [a median LDL cholesterol value of 129.8 mg/dL (range 119.1–140.5 mg/dL)] and a moderate increase in serum levels of NT-proBNP [a median value of 268.4 pg/mL (range 83.7–453.2 pg/mL].