Table 1: Factors Influencing Natriuretic Peptide Levels Independent of Heart Failure.

Increase in natriuretic peptides
Cardiac Acute coronary syndromes Atrial fibrillation Valvular heart disease Cardiomyopathies Myocarditis Cardioversion Left ventricular hypertrophy
Noncardiac Age Female gender Renal impairment Pulmonary embolism Systemic bacterial infections (e.g. pneumonia, sepsis) Obstructive sleep apnea Critical Illness Severe burns Cancer chemotherapy Toxic and metabolic insults
Decrease in natriuretic peptides
Obesity