Custodero C, et al. - Through a retrospective analysis performed on 196 sepsis (a major public health problem, worldwide and according to the Center of Disease) patients aged from 18–86 years old, the researchers examined whether N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, a cardiac-overload biomarker correlated with cardiovascular disease and sepsis severity along with long-term physical function deterioration post-cardiothoracic surgery) blood levels during the acute phase of sepsis could be related to physical function and muscle strength impairment at 6 and 12 months post-sepsis onset. The NT-proBNP values were measured at 24 h post-sepsis onset. Greater levels of NT-proBNP at 24 h post-sepsis onset was related to the lesser short physical performance battery scores at 12 months and lower hand grip strength at a 6-month and 12-month follow-up, when covariates like age, gender, race, Charlson comorbidity index, APACHE II score and presence of chronic critical illness condition were adjusted. Hence, during the acute phase of sepsis, the NT-proBNP levels could be a beneficial indicator of higher risk of long-term impairments in physical function as well as the muscle strength in sepsis survivors.