Labaki WW, et al. - Given that high N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) during COPD exacerbations is associated with worse clinical outcomes, researchers assessed the prognostic significance of NT-proBNP measured during clinical stability. They tested the link between baseline NT-proBNP and incident COPD exacerbations within one year of follow-up among SPIROMICS participants 40–80 years of age with COPD GOLD spirometric stages 1–4. They found the highest NT-proBNP level in stable COPD in GOLD stage D. They observed that, even in individuals without overt cardiac disease, respiratory exacerbations were independently predicted by baseline NT-proBNP in COPD.