Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Can Pro-brain-natriuretic Peptide Guided Therapy of Chronic Heart Failure Improve Heart Failure Morbidity and Mortality?
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether NT-proBNP guided treatment of chronic congestive heart failure will reduce heart failure related morbidity and mortality compared to therapy guided by standard clinical judgement.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 years or older
* Most recent LVEF to be ≤ 40% by any method within 12 months of randomization.
* High risk heart failure as defined by the following criteria:

A Heart Failure Event in the prior 12 months, defined as any one of the following:

* HF Hospitalization
* Treatment in the Emergency Department (or equivalent) for Heart Failure
* Outpatient treatment for heart failure with intravenous diuretics

AND

* NT-proBNP greater than 2000 pg/mL or BNP greater than 400 pg/mL at any time during the 30 days prior to randomization
* Willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute coronary syndrome (clinical diagnosis) or cardiac revascularization procedure within 30 days
* Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) within prior 3 months or current plan to implant CRT device
* Active myocarditis, Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, pericarditis, or restrictive cardiomyopathy
* Severe stenotic valvular disease
* Anticipated heart transplantation or ventricular assist device within 12 months
* Chronic inotropic therapy
* Complex congenital heart disease
* End stage renal disease with renal replacement therapy
* Non cardiac terminal illness with expected survival less than 12 months
* Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
* Inability to comply with planned study procedures
* Enrollment or planned enrollment in another clinical trial
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Admission because of congestive heart failure
* Elevated NT-proBNP levels on admission

Exclusion Criteria:

* Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias
* Urgent intervention
* Severe lung disease
* Presence of life threatening disease
* Signed informed consent for other study
* Mental or physical status not allowing written informed consent.
* Unwillingness to give informed consent
* Patients undergoing haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* ≥40 Years of age
* with risk factors for LVD including:

  * hypertension (medicated for ≥ 1 month)
  * hypercholesterolemia
  * obesity
  * coronary artery disease (confirmed by angiography)
  * diabetes mellitus
  * arrhythmia
  * valvular abnormalities

Exclusion Criteria:

* failure or unwilling to provide informed consent
* known ventricular dysfunction (confirmed by angiography or echocardiography)
* previous documented episode of heart failure
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Men or women at least 18 years old. Women must be post-menopausal or using a highly effective method for avoidance of pregnancy.
* Current treatment with statin therapy unless the study doctor determines statins are not appropriate for the subject.
* Chronic coronary heart disease
* At least one of the following:
* At least 60 years old
* Diabetes requiring treatment with medication
* Low HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol")
* Currently smoke cigarettes or stopped smoking within the past 3 months
* Diagnosed mild or moderate reduction in kidney function
* Cerebrovascular disease (carotid artery disease or ischemic stroke more than 3 months prior to study entry) OR peripheral arterial disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Planned coronary revascularization (such as stent placement or heart bypass) or any other major surgical procedure.
* Liver disease
* Severe reduction in kidney function OR removal of a kidney OR kidney transplant
* Severe heart failure
* Blood pressure higher than normal despite lifestyle changes and treatment with medications
* Any life-threatening disease expected to result in death within the next 2 years (other than heart disease)
* Severe asthma that is poorly controlled with medication
* Pregnant (Note: A pregnancy test will be performed on all non-sterile women prior to study entry)
* Previous severe allergic response to food, drink, insect stings, etc.
* Drug or alcohol abuse within the past 6 months OR mental/psychological impairment that may prevent the subject from complying with study procedures or understanding the goal and potential risks of participating in the study.
* Certain medications that may interfere with the study medication (these will be identified by the study doctor)
* Participation in a study of an investigational medication within the past 30 days
* Current participation in a study of an investigational device

Answer: B