To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of people that have had N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide blood tests to assist in the diagnosis of heart failure in each of the last five years, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.

There is no data available pertaining specifically to the number of people, whose NT-proBNP blood tests assisted in diagnosing heart failure. However, the table below details the total number of NT-proBNP blood tests performed, which are requested for people with suspected heart failure. The table also includes the number ofNT-proBNP blood tests with a result >400ng/litre, which would predominantly indicate a likelihood of a heart failure diagnosis (however, some people may have a raised NT­proBNP due to other conditions, such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism and heart valve disease, etc). The data provided in the table below illustrates the status over the last five financial years and is broken down by individual HSC Trust ( with the exception of the South Eastern HSC Trust, whose NT-proBNP blood tests are processed by the Belfast HSC Trust laboratories).

*Calendar year figures