PRESS RELEASE

BNP reimbursed for use in Hospital Emergency Departments

In a giant leap forward in the fight against cardiac disease, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Tony Abbott, has approved public funding for tests to diagnose heart failure in hospitals.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) testing determines the level of cardiac neurohormone circulating in the blood of a patient presenting with symptoms of breathlessness and suspected heart failure. Levels of two types of cardiac neurohormone can be tested - brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP).

BNP is a cardiac hormone secreted from the cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) as a response to increased blood pressure and volume overload. Levels of BNP have been shown to be elevated in patients with early signs of cardiac dysfunction and overt heart failure.

Approximately 300,000 Australians are believed to suffer from chronic heart failure at any one time and at least 10% of Australians aged over 65 years will develop the condition.

The announcement follows an application submitted by Abbott Diagnostics for the approval of its AxSYM BNP assay to be placed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule for the diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of heart failure. Abbott Diagnostics’ complete solution of platforms includes iSTAT BNP, ARCHITECT BNP and AxSYM BNP.

After reviewing evidence in relation to the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the procedure and in support of the recommendation by Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), Mr Abbott has sanctioned that "public funding be provided for the use of assays of BNP in the diagnosis of heart failure in the hospital emergency setting."

It is estimated that the approximately 98,000 patients presenting to an emergency department each year will benefit from a BNP test.

"This news has been welcomed by the industry," said Dr Terry Pry, Scientific Affairs Manager, Abbott Diagnostics ANZ. "BNP testing appears to be a valuable "first line" diagnostic test that, when added to conventional diagnostic assessment, assists the acute care physician to correctly "rule out" heart failure in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of heart failure, such as acute dyspnoea and oedema."

For more information on the AxSYM BNP assay please contact Your Local Representative.