[RESULTS] In comparison to patients with normal copeptin levels , patients with elevated levels were older , had more pre-existing cardiac and non-cardiac disorders , more silent cardiomyocyte injury and increased haemodynamic stress as quantified by levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T ( 9.6 ng/L ( 3.6-18 .3 ) vs 5.8 ng/L ( 2.9-9 .4 ) ) and B-type natriuretic peptide ( 75ng/L ( 37-187 ) vs 35ng/L ( 15-77 ) ) ( both p < 0.001 ) , more electrocardiographic abnormalities , more often an adjudicated diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux or bronchitis/pneumonia and higher 2-year mortality ( HR 2.9 , 95 % CI 1.5 to 5.7 ) .