Biomarkers in heart failure : towards individualized therapy

This dissertation describes several biomarkers – measurable substances in the blood – that may contribute to the development of improved methods to treat heart failure. Several biomarkers can improve risk assessment for both acute and chronic heart failure. The ability to better assess the risks can help distinguish the ‘sicker’ patients from the ‘less sick’ patients. This, in turn, can help doctors determine which patients require the most intensive care. The dissertation also explores how the biomarker NT-proBNP can contribute to more individualised therapy for heart failure. The results of this study show that this strategy is not only effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths, it is also a safe and cost-effective method that does not have additional side effects. There are new markers on the horizon that may improve this strategy further.