AQW 15182/22-27


Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim


Tabled Date: 17/09/2024
Answered On Date: 02/10/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
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.


Answer:
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).
FY
HSC Trust
TOTAL Number of NT-proBNP blood tests performed
Number of NT-proBNP blood testswith a result >400ng/L
2019/20
Belfast
32,068
*15,313
2020/21
23,462
*11,374
2021/22
31,351
*14,232
2022/23
34,228
*14,126
2023/24
38,493
*14,125
2019/20
Northern
11,321
5,335
2020/21
12,291
6,440
2021/22
16,741
8,240
2022/23
17,258
8,015
2023/24
18,544
8,395
2019/20
Southern
16,871
8,340
2020/21
15,970
8,633
2021/22
21,550
10,795
2022/23
24,660
12,021
2023/24
26,845
13,061
2019/20
Western
15,447
8,996
2020/21
14,425
8,334
2021/22
18,381
10,108
2022/23
19,079
10,311
2023/24
19,762
10,291
*Calendar year figures