Winther JA, et al. - The researchers compared the prognostic and diagnostic properties of copeptin and N-terminal pro-hormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in acute heart failure (HF) and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). In both AECOPD and acute HF, copeptin was seen to be a strong prognostic marker, whereas NT-proBNP concentrations predicted mortality only in patients with acute HF. To diagnose acute HF in patients with acute dyspnea, NT-proBNP levels were superior to copeptin levels.