Higher NT‐proBNP tertiles included older patients with elevated surgical risk scores, a higher prevalence of comorbidities (e.g. atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, prior myocardial infarction, renal dysfunction), greater symptomatic burden (including a history of HF hospitalizations), and more advanced echocardiographic signs of left and right heart congestion. Here, NPPB is linked to hydrops fetalis.