Which test assesses the degree of heart failure?

• A. Complete Blood Count
• B. Basic Metabolic Panel
• C. B-type Natriuretic Peptide
• D. Glucose

Answer: (C)

BNP levels reflect heart failure severity because the ventricles release this peptide in response to increased wall stress from fluid overload. As heart failure worsens and the ventricles are stretched more, BNP rises, and higher levels generally indicate more advanced dysfunction and a poorer prognosis. This makes BNP (and related NT-proBNP) a useful biomarker to gauge how severe the heart failure is and to monitor response to therapy over time.

Other listed tests don’t measure heart failure severity. A complete blood count looks at blood cells and can show anemia, infection, or bleeding risk but doesn’t quantify cardiac function. A basic metabolic panel checks electrolytes and kidney function, which can be affected by heart failure but doesn’t directly measure its severity. Glucose measures blood sugar and has no direct link to heart failure status.