Figure 2.

Predictive value of N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for cardiac dysfunction. The cutoff of retained NT-proBNP concentrations was 500 ng/L. The estimated post-test probabilities for different pre-test probabilities are shown, assuming constancy of the positive likelihood ratio for NT-proBNP of greater than 500 ng/L (Post-test +) or of the negative likelihood ratio for NT-proBNP of less than 500 ng/L (Post-test -). Pre-test probability and post-test probability were defined, respectively, as the probabilities of cardiac dysfunction before and after a diagnostic test (NT-proBNP) result was known.