Shibata A, et al. - Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) is a myokine that plays a key role in regulating survival, growth, and maintenance of neurons, so researchers wanted to see if BDNF serum levels at discharge could be useful in the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). The link between BDNF and exercise tolerance was also assessed. Significantly higher rates of cardiac death or rehospitalization, attributed to worsening HF, were seen in the low BDNF group via Kaplan–Meier analysis. Overall, in HF patients, serum BDNF level at discharge may serve as a useful biomarker of the prognosis. For the prediction of early cardiac events in these subjects, combining BDNF and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO₂) may be useful.