Lay summary
We have identified a potential anomaly for Pasifika in the measurement of NT-proBNP, a blood marker of heart health. In 300 heart-healthy study participants, NT-proBNP levels in Pasifika were only half those observed in NZ Europeans. We will investigate if similar observations occur in patients with heart failure; and whether disparities result from differential assay detection or if this is a true ethnic difference.
NT-proBNP has been proposed as part of cardiovascular screening tests in the community to detect those at risk of heart failure. If NT-proBNP levels are inherently low, the existing reference ranges for NT-proBNP might need to be adjusted to be relevant for Pasifika in New Zealand and the Pacific region.